GILGIT, Jan 8: Eleven people were killed, including six members of a family, after riots broke out in Gilgit on Saturday following an armed attack on a Shia leader, officials said. A curfew was imposed in the town after the unrest.

Armed men opened fire on Agha Ziauddin, the leader of Millat-i-Islamia, when he was travelling in his car to a mosque. He was wounded, but his two guards were killed, Gilgit Deputy Commissioner Sajid Baloch said.

One of the attackers was killed when Mr Ziauddin's guards returned fire, Northern Areas Home Secretary Jamil Ahmed said. "He is not from Gilgit. We are trying to establish his identity," he added.

Mr Ziauddin's supporters took to the streets after the ambush, going on a shooting and burning spree that forced the government to deploy troops and enforce a curfew in the city with orders to shoot on sight anyone caught outside.

The mob set fire to several government offices and private buildings.

It also torched the house of forest officer Taighun Nabi, burning him and five members of his family to death, Mr Baloch said.

Elsewhere during the rampage, local health department chief Dr Sher Wali was trapped in his office and fatally shot by the mob, his cousin Badar Munir said.

Another man was killed as the mob shot randomly in the streets, said the home secretary.

"The administration is making announcements on loud speakers advising people to stay indoors," said Ghulfam Ahmed, a resident, as tensions ran high in the city.

"People are very terrified," a resident told Reuters by telephone.

Interior ministry officials in Islamabad said they were trying to airlift Mr Ziauddin to the capital for emergency treatment.

No one claimed responsibility for the attack on Mr Ziauddin.

Meanwhile, Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said the incident was an act of the enemies of Pakistan who wanted to create instability.

Talking to PTV, he said unknown persons tried to assassinate Agha Ziauddin which created law and order situation and the army was called in.

"I think killing someone or destroying private property has nothing to do with Islam. Those responsible for all this are neither Muslims nor Pakistanis," he said.

He described the incident as regretful and condemned it.

Saturday's violence was the worst in Gilgit since June, when one man was killed in clashes between security forces and people protesting against the school curriculum.

Some 4,000 people have been killed in sectarian violence across the country over a decade.-Agencies

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Gilgit calm, unrest in Skardu
09-01-2005

ISLAMABAD, Jan 9: Gilgit was tense but calm on Sunday as troops patrolled streets of the city which was hit by widespread violence following a terrorist attack on Saturday on a top prayer leader.

However, reports of unrest were received from Baltistan and hundreds of angry people burned tyres and blocked roads in Skardu, the capital of the area. Security was stepped up in Hunza where a group of youths attacked the offices of an assistant commissioner in Aliabad. The offices, it may be mentioned, were ransacked and set on fire during last June's curriculum-related violence.

The area has been cut off from Gilgit and the Sost-border posts, sources told Dawn on Sunday. Meanwhile, Agha Ziauddin Rizvi, the prayer leader of the central Imamia Mosque, and one of his guards, who were injured in the Gilgit attack, were shifted to Islamabad in a military helicopter on Sunday.

They have been admitted to the Combined Military Hospital in Rawalpindi. Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Northern Areas Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat confirmed that Agha Rizvi had been admitted to the CMH and his condition was stable.

At least 15 people, including two government officials and a terrorist, were killed and 15 others injured in violence which erupted after the terrorist attack, hospital and official sources told Dawn.

A curfew was imposed in the city and troops were called in to control the situation. The unidentified gunmen sprayed the vehicle of Agha Ziauddin with bullets, injuring him, his guards and two companions.

Agha Rizvi was travelling in his car to a nearby mosque. The injured leader was taken to the District Headquarters hospital Gilgit. Two of his three guards later died.

Those killed in Saturday's violence were identified as Dr Sher Wali, Director of District Health Offices; Forest Officer Taighun Nabi; Liaquat Ali, of Jutial; Mohammad Ayaz, of Chakarkot; and Rizwan, of Naupura.

Three other employees of the forest department who were burned alive when an enraged mob torched the forest office, could not be identified, Doctor Shabbir in the district headquarters hospital told Dawn by telephone.

A young boy working in a hotel, who was killed in the violence, was identified as Mohammad Din and another employee of the health directorate was identified as Wazarat Khan, of Shikyot.

The two guards of Agha Rizvi who died of their injuries were Hussain Akbar of Nagarals and Mohammad Abbas of Chalat. The body of a passer-by who had been hit by a bullet during the attack and that of a suspect terrorist could not be identified. The suspect terrorist was killed when Agha Ziauddin's guards returned fire, Northern Areas Home Secretary Jamil Ahmed said.

"He is not from Gilgit. We are trying to establish his identity," he told Dawn. His body was taken into custody by law enforcement agencies, a source told Dawn. Two of the assailants managed to escape, he added. Witnesses said mobs attacked and damaged PWD offices, health directorate and two dozen shops and vehicles.

It was the worst incident of violence in Gilgit since June, when six persons were killed in clashes between security forces and demonstrator during the school curriculum protests.

A source said that Mr Rizvi in his last Friday sermon had criticised the government for not resolving the curriculum issue. He had warned the government of resuming the protest campaign if the curriculum issue was not resolved.

Local nationalist leaders condemned the attack on Agha Rizvi and termed it a work of agencies. Wajahat Hassan Khan, Chairman All Parties National Alliance, Dr Ghulam Abbas, Chairman of Baloristan Thinkers Forums and Amanullah, Chairman Boloristan Research Forum held the local administration responsible for the incident.

Meanwhile, top officials of the local administration who have been absent from the area for about a month, were flown to Gilgit on Sunday. Sources said that the military authorities had expressed displeasure over their absence from the area.

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Religious scholar succumbs to injuries: Curfew in Skardu
13-01-2005

GILGIT, Jan 13: A prominent religious scholar, Syed Agha Ziauddin Rizvi, who was injured in an armed attack on Jan 8, succumbed to his injuries at the Combined Military Hospital in Rawalpindi on Thursday morning.

As a precautionary measure, authorities have imposed curfew in Skardu, some 120km from here, and troops have started patrolling the city. According to some reports, telephone lines have also been disconnected.

A press note issued by the administration said that curfew had been extended to the adjoining areas of Gilgit, including Danyore, Hainzai and no break was allowed on Thursday.

Agha Ziauddin Rizvi, who was the prayer leader of Gilgit's Imamia Mosque, was seriously injured when some unidentified people ambushed his car in Gilgit last week.

Two of his bodyguards, Akbar Hussain and Abbas Ali, died on the spot, while the third received injuries in the attack. One of the attackers was killed. The incident sparked violence in the area which left 15 people dead and 35 wounded.

Over a dozen shops, including four government offices, were set ablaze in the violence which subsided only after the imposition of curfew on Jan 9. Sources said the late scholar was hit from a close range and had received at least two bullets in his head. He was airlifted to Rawalpindi on Jan 10 for medical treatment.

His injured bodyguard, Tanvir Hussain, died in the CMH on Thursday. The authorities tried to send the body of the late scholar to Gilgit through a helicopter but it returned due to bad weather. The body would now be dispatched to Gilgit on Friday, the sources said.

PROFILE: The late Agha Ziauddin Rizvi, 45, was born at Aumphary, Gilgit, in a religious family. He completed his schooling in Gilgit and was later shifted to Lahore and then to Iran for higher religious education.

He also visited the UK and Kuwait as a member of a tablighee delegation in the early eighties. He leaves behind four children and a wife. The late leader rose to prominence in 1990 after he played a role in restoring peace and reconciliation efforts after the sectarian clashes of 1988 which left over 300 people dead.

He was generally regarded as a symbol of unity by the majority Shia community in Northern Areas and served as central Khateeb of Gilgit Imamia Masque for 15 years until his death. A large number of his followers gathered in Imamia mosque to receive the body despite curfew.

CONDOLENCES: All political and religious parties have expressed deep sorrow over the death of Agha Ziauddin Rizvi. In a statement, Syed Raziuddin Rizvi, younger brother of the late Agha Ziauddin Rizvi, condemned the brutal act of terrorism and reposed confidence in the ongoing investigation into the incident.

PML-N chief organizer for Northern Areas Hafiz Hafizur Rahman expressed sorrow over the death of the late scholar and demanded imposition of martial law in the region until the situation improved.

The president of Imamia Anjuman Gilgit, Shaikh Mirza Ali, termed the incident a conspiracy to spoil the peaceful environment of the region and hoped that the administration would bring the culprits to book.

He called upon the administration to make swift arrangements for the early airlifting of the dead bodies of the late Agha Ziauddin Rizvi and his bodyguard. Shaikh Mirza Ali also appealed to the public of Northern Areas to remain calm, peaceful and exercise restraint so that the funeral rites of the late scholar could be performed with respect and reverence.

A spokesman for the Northern Areas administration said that the situation was peaceful and army troops, magistrates and police had started patrolling the area in coordination with members of the peace committee.



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Religious leader's killer identified
27-01-2005



PESHAWAR, Jan 26: A team of Special Investigation Group (SIG) personnel has identified the killer of religious leader Syed Agha Ziauddin Rizvi in Gilgit as Mukhtiar Ahmad, an activist of the proscribed outfit Lashkar-i-Jhangvi.

A well-placed official source told Dawn that the assailant, who was also killed belonged to the village of Zareef Korona (Michni), in the outskirts of Peshawar. It is learnt that the team of the SIG, a counter-terrorism group of the FIA which investigated the case, visited the village and met members of his family including his father.

A number of arrests have been made over the last two days following the identification of the assailant, the source said. The names of the arrested persons have not been announced.

Agha Ziauddin was attacked on Jan 8 when he was in his car. He suffered serious injuries and died on Jan 13. During the attack, his two bodyguards and an attacker were killed. The incident sparked violence resulting in death of 15 people.

It is learnt that two days ago the investigation team including an assistant director of the SIG, Sardar Abdul Azeem, inspector, Habibullah Khan, DSP Crimes Branch (Gilgit) Syed Nazimuddin and a sub-inspector of Gilgit police station reached Peshawar.

Residents of Zareef Korona said that a picture of the assailant was shown to Naqeeb Ahmad, who identified his son and also informed the team that he was linked to the Lashkar-i-Jhangvi.

"The investigation team has taken into custody personal diary and the telephone index of the attacker," informed a family member. Some family members of the attacker have left for Gilgit to get his body.

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54 arrested in Skardu over Jan 13 violence
27-01-2005

SKARDU, Jan 26: Fifty-four people have been arrested for allegedly damaging public property and setting on fire some shops and hotels during the Jan 13 violence.

Senior Superintendent of Police Hajat Mir told newsmen here on Wednesday that cases had been registered under Terrorism Act against 16 unknown people and investigation was in final stage.

Three different investigation teams have been formed. The SSP said 54 people were under police custody and investigations were under way against them under the Terrorist Act, section 7, and PPC sections 164, 147, 148, 149 and 436.

Cases had also been registered against several arrested persons under section 295 for raising slogans and they would be sent to jail after judicial remand, he added.

Several persons, who were under police custody, had been hospitalized due to severe physical and mental torture by the police during investigation, sources said. The accused had been arrested by the police on suspicion of being involved in setting ablaze some private properties.

The source said besides 54 people booked so far, more arrests were being made. Nine accused, including young boys, were shifted to the DHQ hospital the other day because of severe police torture.

Earlier, five people had also reportedly been shifted to the hospital in the same case and were sent back to the police station after their condition improved.

The accused said they were innocent and not involved in any incident. The police were unfair with them, they complained. Visitors have been barred from meeting the accused in the Police Lines and the police stations.

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Qari Anwar Khan, a suspect in Agha Zia's murder case held
2-03-2005

PESHAWAR, Feb 3: The special investigation group of FIA has arrested a leader of a banned militant organization from Charsadda in connection with the assassination of Shia religious leader of Gilgit, Agha Ziauddin, sources told Dawn here on Thursday.

A team of SIG came from Gilgit to investigate the case of sectarian violence in Gigit and the assassination of Agha Ziauddin, apprehended Qari Anwar Khan, provincial leader of the banned militant outfit Sipah-i-Sahaba, from Charsadda on Wednesday night, the sources said.

According to sources, Qari Anwar Khan is also a teacher of Government High School No 1 in Charsadda. The SIG shifted the accused to some unknown location for interrogation.

The SIG team came here from Gilgit 10 days ago and identified a suicide bomber as Mukhtiar Ahmad, a resident of Zareef Koroona in Michni area near Mohmand Agency. He was a member of the banned militant organization Lashkar-i-Jhangvi.

Agha Ziauddin was critically injured in a suicide bomb attack in Gilgit on Jan 8 and after five days he died in the Combined Military Hospital in Rawalpindi. But the suicide bombing led to the sectarian violence which claimed 17 lives in Gilgit.

A man was killed in Skardu by the law-enforcement agency when he violated the curfew. The law-enforcement agencies have so far arrested 70 persons in Gilgit and Skardu for interrogations.

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SKARDU: 34 remanded to judicial custody in arson case
2-06-2005

SKARDU, Feb 4: A court has remanded 34 persons into judicial custody after a probe for their alleged involvement in the Jan 13 violence. Police accused them of carrying out arson attacks in retaliation for the killing of Agha Ziauddin.

The court had freed 13 others because of insufficient proof, a police official told local reporters here on Friday. The superintendent of police, Skardu, said the police had arrested 62 persons for arson attacks during a protest demonstration against the assassination of the Shia leader on Jan 13.

The police had detained them on the report of the intelligence agencies. They were arresting more people in this regard, he said. The government would also take a stern action against police officers and persons showing apathy during the incidents.

Answering a query, the SP said the police were investigating the killing of a young man during curfew. Mohammad Kazim fell victim to the firing a security personal on Jan 14, 2004, at Agha Hadi Chowk.

CONDEMNATION: Various political and social organizations have condemned the killing of Agha Ziauddin. The district council, municipal council, the Mashal-i-Rah (a women's social welafre organization) and various political and social workers demand an action against the culprits involved in the murder.

They, in separate resolutions, have demanded withdrawal of charges fixed under the terrorist act on the accused people, end to arrests of innocent people. The members and office-bearers of the Mashal-i-Rah, at a meeting here, criticized police for torturing the small boys in the custody.

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Man shot dead in Gilgit
10-03-2005

GILGIT, March 10: The law and order situation in the region deteriorated on Thursday when a person was shot dead in Bargu village, 23km west of here, during an exchange of fire, police sources said.

Commander of 10 Corps Rawalpindi, Lt-Gen Salahuddin Satti, visited Gilgit and Skardu on Thursday and met various delegations. He sought proposals from the people on restoration of peace in the strife-stricken city, sources said.

The police sources said the firing began early on Thursday between two groups, which killed Haider, son of Abdullah Khan. Police and army troops have started a search operation to arrest the culprits in the village, but no arrests were made till filing of this report.

Three persons were killed in the village earlier apparently in sectarian incidents. Meanwhile, the two-day mourning announced by the Tanzim Ahle Sunnah Wal Jamaat, Northern Areas, paralyzed the business in Gilgit. It was a protest against the murder of education department official Muhammad Ayub. However, no untoward incident had been reported, police said.

The Karakoram Highway remained closed for two days due to uncertain situation in Gilgit and traffic between Gilgit and Rawalpindi remained suspended. Law enforcement agencies are patrolling the city roads.



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