Skardu/Gilgit: A wave of fury has engulfed Pakistan-administered Gilgit-Baltistan after a deadly shooting incident allegedly involving the Pakistan Army left 13 civilians dead — including six children — triggering massive street protests across the mountainous region.
Thousands of residents poured onto the streets of Skardu and Gilgit, mourning the victims while chanting angry slogans against Pakistan’s military leadership and the federal government in Islamabad. Protesters demanded justice for what they described as a brutal and unacceptable use of force against unarmed civilians.
Local reports say the tragedy unfolded after gunfire erupted during a tense situation involving security forces. The incident quickly spiralled into one of the most serious civilian flashpoints in the region in recent years.
Eyewitness accounts and local activists claim that the victims included young children caught in the chaos, a revelation that has intensified public anger and grief. Demonstrators carried placards condemning Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, accusing the authorities of suppressing the voices of the region’s people.
Crowds in several towns staged emotional protests, demanding an independent international investigation into the killings and accountability for those responsible.
Human rights observers say the unrest has exposed deep-seated tensions in Gilgit-Baltistan, a strategically sensitive Himalayan region long criticised for political marginalisation and limited civil rights under Pakistan’s administration.
As funerals for the victims began, the atmosphere across the region remained tense. Community leaders warned that public anger would not subside unless authorities ensured transparency and justice.
The incident has drawn growing attention beyond the region, with activists urging global human rights organisations to scrutinise the events and the treatment of civilians in Gilgit-Baltistan.
For many grieving families, however, the issue is painfully simple: justice for the innocent lives lost in a tragedy that has shaken the conscience of the region.
