Tensions Rise in Shigar: Protests Against Sarfaranga Desert Ruling Intensify

In Pakistan's Shigar district, protests continue against a court ruling declaring the Sarfaranga Cold Desert as state land. Local residents, asserting historical claims, oppose the verdict, leading to a tense standoff as authorities attempt to enforce the decision. The community vows to maintain their protest until justice is achieved.

The Shigar district of Gilgit-Baltistan is witnessing sustained protests against a court ruling that declared the Sarfaranga Cold Desert as state land. Residents have staged sit-ins for over three weeks, challenging the September 19 Chief Court verdict that threatens their traditional land rights.

Protesters, firmly rooted in their ancestral claims, have raised slogans decrying the decision. The Sarfaranga Maidan, a vital grazing area, has historically been theirs, supported by government documents. Tensions trace back to land allocations during Zia ul Haq's era, compounded by legal challenges initiated by settlers from 1948 against those from 1971.

Amid increased police presence, structures were demolished on September 23, intensifying resistance. The community established a protest camp, drawing widespread regional support. Demonstrators pledged to pursue legal avenues, with a commitment to relentless protests until justice prevails, regardless of historical migrations.

(With inputs from agencies.)