Thousands of protesters in Chilas, Gilgit-Baltistan, continue their sit-in protest, Huqooq Do, Dam Banao Tehreek, for the sixth consecutive day, demanding compensation from the federal government for the land they gave up for the construction of the Diamer-Bhasha Dam while remaining firm on their 31-point charter of demands.
Maulana Hazratullah, a key protest leader, warned authorities, “If our demands are not met, we will march toward the dam and halt construction work at the site.”
In a statement, GB Information Minister Eman Shah said, “The provincial government has no role in this matter because the construction of the dam falls under the jurisdiction of the federal government.”
Meanwhile, on Thursday, the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs, Gilgit-Baltistan, and SAFRON issued a notification stating that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has formed a seven-member committee to assess the concerns raised by the protesters and address their legitimate grievances.
Background:
The Huqooq Do, Dam Banao Tehreek sit-in protest is rooted in longstanding grievances regarding compensation and resettlement agreements linked to the Diamer-Bhasha Dam project. On February 13, the movement presented its 31-point charter of demands and issued a 48-hour ultimatum to authorities, warning of further action if their demands were not addressed.
Consequently, the sit-in protest began on February 16 in Chilas, Diamer district.
The demonstrators are demanding the immediate implementation of agreements signed with WAPDA in 2010 and the Diamer Graduate Alliance in 2021. According to the protesters, the affectees of the Diamer-Bhasha Dam project should be provided with Green Cards and Health Cards. Under the 2010 agreement with WAPDA, each affected person is entitled to six kanals of agricultural land. Additionally, the protesters insist that every married couple be declared eligible for the Household Resettlement Package (Chulha Package). They also demand that compensation and the Chulha Package be extended to new constructions deemed necessary from 2015 to 2025.
This long-standing dispute has now escalated into a full-fledged movement, with thousands of residents refusing to back down until their demands are met.
