Gilgit ambush kills two policemen, injures three

GILGIT: Unknown armed men ambushed a police patrol killing two officials, including a Deputy Superintendent (DSP), while injuring three others in a remote valley of Gilgit – Baltistan [G-B] late on Thursday night.

The law enforcers came under attack as they were making their routine rounds around 11 pm in district Diamer’s Tangir valley, about 250 kilometers from Gilgit.

“Deputy Superintendent Police [DSP] Attaullah and Haleem have been killed in the attack,” said Ali Sher, the deputy inspector general police on Friday.

No one had claimed responsibility for the attack till this report was filed.

“We have launched an investigation into the incident but nothing can be said with surety at this stage,” Sher said. He confirmed that the injured policemen were now stable.

Pakistan faces internal and external threats

Domestic violence plus separatists’ pressure, Pakistan is plunging into a perfect storm of threats on the two fronts—internal and external.

The internal threats are economic stagnation, growing poverty and inequality, lawlessness, the pervasive corruption, regional conflicts, ethnic divides, sectarian killings and clash of institutions. The external threats are the imposed conflicts with the ever ready enemies to destabilize the country by organizing themselves against Pakistan on Eastern and Western fronts.

A close look into the prevailing situation makes all too clear that Pakistan is passing through one of the most troublesome periods of instability in its history. The rising extremism, failing economy, political instability and chronic underdevelopment are intensifying feelings of hatred among the masses against injustices meted out to them in almost every field of public activity, which are resulting into unprecedented political, economic and social disorder.

The country seems to be on a downward course due to the fact that its leadership is not adequately addressing either internal violence or the needs of the people. The governments’ policies are self-serving and far from meeting needs or expectations of people, due to which there arises problems on all levels of national development.