Karachi (PR): Residents of Karachi from the Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) assembled outside the Karachi Press Club on Sunday to join a protest demonstration organized by the G-B Youth Alliance. The demonstration was sparked by the abduction of 13-year-old Falak Noor from her home near Gilgit city and her subsequent forced marriage. Those attending the protest demonstration included academicians, professionals, rights and political activists, students, business people, and common citizens.
The protesters, holding placards and chanting slogans, demanded urgent action from the authorities. Their primary demands included the immediate recovery of Falak Noor from her abductors and her safe transfer back to Gilgit-Baltistan. They also called for exemplary punishment for the perpetrators involved in both her abduction and the cleric who conducted the illegal marriage.
The demonstrators also expressed their concern over the recent brutal killing of another minor, Inana from Yaseen. They criticized the failure of Gilgit-Baltistan police and law enforcement agencies to effectively address both of these cases. Specifically, they called into question the credibility of the local police force, particularly the role of SP Danyor in Falak Noor’s case. They demanded his immediate termination and legal investigation for suspected complicity.
Moreover, the protesters condemned alleged threats made by SP Gilgit against Ahasan Ali Advocate, the legal counsel representing Falak Noor’s father. They called for the dismissal of SP Gilgit City and demanded a public apology for his treatment of a prominent lawyer.
Beyond specific cases, the demonstrators put forth a series of broader demands, including the introduction of legislation in the GB Assembly to declare marriages under the age of 18 illegal, the establishment of women’s shelter homes in all districts of Gilgit-Baltistan, and justice for Sharafat Hussain, a resident of G-B who was recently murdered in Ali Pur, Islamabad.
The protesters issued warned the GB government, emphasizing that failure to meet their demands would lead to an expansion of the protest. They held the government responsible for any ensuing disturbances or unrest.
The demonstration served as a strong reminder of the urgent need for action to address issues of abduction, forced marriage, and violence against minors and weak in Gilgit-Baltistan, resonating with the collective voice of concerned citizens determined to seek justice for the victims.
