GILGIT: Thousands of Diamer-Basha Dam project affectees gathered at Siddique Akbar Chowk in Chilas on Sunday to press for their 31-point charter of demands, urging the government to address their grievances.
Earlier on Friday, the affectees gave a 48-hour ultimatum for their demands to be met and unveiled a 31-point charter outlining their concerns regarding compensation.
Upon the ultimatum’s expiry, people from the suburbs of Diamer converged on Chilas town and gathered at Siddique Akbar Chowk.
The protesters, comprising local residents, lawyers, landowners, and religious leaders, called for fair compensation, resettlement, and infrastructural development in the region. They accused WAPDA of failing to fulfill commitments made to those impacted by the multi-billion-dollar Diamer-Basha Dam project.
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Chanting slogans against WAPDA, the demonstrators demanded the immediate implementation of their demands, which include adequate compensation, employment opportunities, and access to basic facilities such as roads, healthcare, and education.
Speaking at the protest, community leaders criticized the slow pace of compensation payments and the lack of transparency in the resettlement process. “We sacrificed our ancestral lands for the dam, but the government has not honored its promises,” said one of the speakers.
During the gathering, the protesters announced a “ceasefire” in their long-standing enmities until their issues are resolved. They also took an oath to uphold this commitment.
Diamer is a tribal area where hundreds have lost their lives due to longstanding feuds.
Later, the protesters marched towards the Karakoram Highway. Upon reaching KKH, they staged a sit-in at a ground without blocking the road. The protesters announced that they would march towards the Diamer-Basha Dam construction site on Monday.
The protest organisers emphasised that their demands must be met to ensure justice for the thousands of people displaced by the dam project. They urged authorities to resolve compensation issues promptly, warning that the protests would continue untill their demands are met.
Showing solidarity with the protesters, traders in Chilas also observed a complete shutter-down strike, bringing commercial activities in the city to a halt.
The protests in Chilas are gaining support from other districts, as Anjuman-e-Imamia Gilgit, Awami Action Committee, and various social and religious organizations have urged the government to address the genuine demands of the dam affectees.
Meanwhile, Awami Action Committee held a protest and demonstration in Gilgit to show solidarity with the protest in Chilas, urging the government to address the demands of the Diamer-Basha Dam affectees without further delay.
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