GILGIT: Dozens of frustrated Chinese nationals stranded due to the closure of the Khunjerab Pass Immigration Office’s entry and exit points on the Pakistan-China border by Gilgit-Baltistan traders scuffled with police at Sost on Wednesday.
A large number of Chinese nationals, students, and foreign tourists were unable to travel to China through the Khunjerab Pass for the third consecutive day as G-B traders blocked travel along the Karakoram Highway between the two countries.
The stranded Chinese nationals and foreign tourists protested with local police for not arranging their departure to China. According to videos circulating on social media, a large number of Chinese nationals protested and scuffled with police after exchanging hot words.
Eyewitnesses claimed that some Chinese nationals, holding stones in their hands, allegedly attempted to attack the sit-in camp staged by the traders. When police stopped them from moving towards the protest camp, they exchanged harsh words and clashed with the officers.
The traders have been staging a sit-in and blocking the Karakoram Highway for the past 52 days against the collection of sales tax, income tax, and excise duty from the people of Gilgit-Baltistan by the federal government. On Monday, the demonstrators again halted work at the immigration counter at Sost, suspending all travel and trade between Pakistan and China through the Khunjerab Pass.
The protest sit-in is being held on call of the Pak-China Tajir Ittehad Action Committee. The protesters maintain that G-B is a “disputed territory” and that the collection of taxes is therefore illegal.
Following the incident, leaders of the Pak-China Tajir Ittehad Action Committee held a press conference to condemn the incident and alleged that the incident was an “orchestrated attempt” to instigate violence at their peaceful protest.
“An unpleasant incident took place today when Chinese nationals were provoked and attempted to attack our camp. We strongly condemn this and hold the local administration responsible for such tactics. No matter what pressure is applied, we will not leave this protest camp until our demands are formally accepted through notification,” the leaders declared.
They added that although police managed to push the Chinese nationals back, there were fears of further provocations. The committee urged the provincial government and Hunza administration to ensure that the situation does not deteriorate.
On Tuesday, G-B Assembly member and member of the committee formed by the G-B chief minister to hold talks with the federal government committee to resolve the issue, Advocate Amjad Hussain, informed the Assembly that negotiations with the federal government were progressing. He revealed that in the first round of talks, 10 to 12 demands of the traders had already been accepted.
“The accepted points will be placed before the next cabinet meeting, and the minutes will then be forwarded to the federal government, which will issue an SRO,” he said. “After the issuance of an SRO, Gilgit-Baltistan will be exempted from three taxes. We want the people of G-B to benefit from this exemption, not anyone sitting in Karachi.”Sindh govt rubbishes reports of Shahrah-e-Bhutto collapse
