The Chilmishdas area of Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan (PoGB) is grappling with a severe flood-like situation, exposing significant neglect by occupied-authorities towards essential infrastructure issues. A seasonal river in the region is threatening to inundate local electricity supply lines critical for Gilgit City.

Despite the looming flood threat, the local administration is only now attempting emergency repairs and adjustments. Residents have voiced frustration, noting that the crisis could have been mitigated if the occupied-administration had constructed a gabion wall, a project approved in 2022 but left incomplete.

A local activist expressed frustration, saying, “We repeatedly urged the administration to address this issue before the monsoon. Our concerns were ignored.”

Flood Emergency

Local politician Ilyas Siddiqui criticized the administration’s failure to act promptly. “This is not the first instance of such negligence. In 2022, we experienced a similar flood situation. Former Chief Minister Khalid Khurshid temporarily sanctioned a 1000-foot gabion wall, but its extension was never completed. Now, as floods approach, the administration is scrambling with temporary fixes. If the tower in the river collapses, it could disrupt Gilgit City’s electricity for at least a month, and the administration will be held accountable.”

A similar flood-like situation was reported in the outskirts of Skardu and Shigar districts of PoGB, where local authorities also failed to provide adequate rescue or relief, leading to significant damage to private property and homes.

Floods pose a severe threat in these areas, where the local population largely relies on agriculture for their livelihoods. Recent floods have not only destroyed homes but also severely damaged road infrastructure, which was already in poor condition.

Shahzad Wazir, the South Waziristan Coordinator for the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), was arrested under 3MPO, while PTM central member Farman Akhtar was attacked by security agencies last night.

The arrest of Wazir took place three days ago in Aghi, with reports indicating that he is currently held at the D.I. Khan jail. This arrest is part of a broader crackdown on PTM members, which has intensified due to the Pashtun National Court, led by Manzoor Pashteen, scheduled for October 11. It has spread fear within the Punjabi Pak Army and imposed severe restrictions on the members of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM).

Meanwhile, occupied-authorities raided the residence of Farman Akhtar late last night. The raid adds to the growing list of confrontations between the PTM and occupied- agencies. Earlier, a notorious former death squad member, now serving as a Station House Officer (SHO), attempted to abduct Farman Akhtar. The intervention of local residents and Wazir’s friends thwarted the abduction attempt, highlighting the ongoing risks and resistance faced by PTM members.

The PTM, which advocates for Pashtun rights and justice, has faced increasing pressure and repression from the Punjabi Pak Army. These recent developments underscore the ongoing challenges and risks faced by PTM members as they continue their advocacy efforts amidst heightened scrutiny and aggression from security forces.

Ongoing protests at Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan’s (PoGB) Sost dry port have caused significant disruptions for foreign nationals attempting to enter or exit the region. The protests, now in their third day, have left numerous travelers stranded outside the customs office, unable to complete necessary clearance procedures.

Traders involved in cross-border trade between China and Pakistan organized the protest, citing grievances over illegal taxes imposed by customs officials. Despite a court order from the Chief Court of PoGB restraining the collection of sales tax, income tax, and additional sales tax, traders say that the Federal Bureau of Revenue (FBR) and customs officers have been obstructing the enforcement of this order.

Traders from PoGB initiated a sit-in on 29 July, at the NLC Dry Port in Sost to demand the implementation of a court order regarding tax exemptions for cross-border trade with China through the Khunjerab Pass.

Traders, including those from Quetta, have expressed frustration over the delays, about the corruption and bribery that are affecting the process. A trader who has been waiting for five days criticized the customs officials for their inaction and claimed that only those who paid bribes were cleared.

Protesters are demanding that customs officials comply with the court order and end the illegal tax collection. If their demands are not met, they have warned of escalating the protest, potentially blocking key transportation routes such as the Karakoram Highway.

Police in Lahore are facing criticism for their handling of a disturbing case involving the alleged rape of a 15-year-old Christian girl by two Muslim men, Muhammad Amjad and Fahad Nasir. The suspects are reportedly threatening to harm the victim’s mother and other family members if they do not withdraw the case.

According to Sonia Mehboob, the mother of the victim, her daughter was assaulted by Amjad and Nasir on the night of July 1. Mehboob reported that the police were reluctant to file a First Information Report (FIR) and delayed the registration by a day. “We made several visits to the police station, but each time we were treated harshly by the police,” Mehboob said. “When the FIR was finally registered, no effort was made to arrest the suspects, allowing them to secure interim bails from the court.”

The victim, whose name is being withheld for privacy reasons, had gone to a nearby grocery store around 10 p.m. on the night of the assault. Upon her return, Amjad and Nasir stopped her on the street, forced her to drink water laced with drugs, and then took her to a nearby house where she was raped.

Mehboob, a Catholic domestic worker, said that when her daughter did not come home, she and her husband began searching for her. During their search, they encountered Nasir, who claimed to have seen the victim heading towards a park. After failing to find her there, they returned home and saw Amjad emerging from a house with the victim, who was visibly struggling.

Lahore Rape Case

“The sight was horrifying,” Mehboob said. “My daughter was drugged and unable to speak. Her clothes were soaked in blood.” The family immediately contacted the police, who took the victim to the hospital. Medical examinations confirmed the rape and showed signs of torture and bite marks.

Despite evidence and a medical report supporting the victim’s account, the police were slow to act. Mehboob filed an application to register a case against the suspects, but police reluctance persisted. She also requested DNA tests for the suspects and the victim, which were refused.

Delay and Neglect

The situation has escalated with the suspects threatening the family to drop the case. On July 19, the suspects filed a false assault case against Mehboob’s 16-year-old son, Zikaria, despite his severe leg injury, and also implicated local Christian counselor Sadiq Masih, who has been assisting the family in their quest for justice.

The victim described her confusion and pain after regaining consciousness in the room where the assault occurred. “I was numb and in severe pain, with bite injuries all over my body,” she said.

The case has underscored serious concerns regarding the safety of religious minorities in Pakistan and highlighted the ineffectiveness of law enforcement in addressing such issues. It reflects the ongoing challenges faced by religious minorities, particularly Hindus and Christians, who are derogatorily referred to as “kafirs” in Sindh.