Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) Senior Minister Col (r) Abaid Ullah Baig had allegedly been made hostage by a group of militants on Babusar Road in Chilas on Friday.

According to the 24NewsHD TV Channel, the minister was heading to Gilgit from Islamabad, when he was struck in a protest launched by some protesters at Babusar Road, one of the main roads connecting Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to other parts of the country. The protesters were allegedly demanding the imposition of Shariah in the province, with no women’s sports in the GB.

Reportedly, the minister and various others were made hostage by a militant group in the guise of the protesters.  

In an audio tape that went viral on social media, the Minister is allegedly heard saying that he was going to Gilgit when militants obstructed the route to demand the release of their imprisoned allies.

As per the reports, a wanted terrorist of the GB, Abibur Rehman, and his colleagues created barricaded on the road in Thak Village of Chilas, which left motorists trapped. Abibur Rehman is also suspected of killing ten foreigners in Nanga Parbat and he also sought the release of his allies involved in that terrorist incident.

A negotiation team comprised of local scholars from Chilas along with former government spokesman Faizullah Faraq, Deputy Commissioner Diamer Fayyaz Ahmad, SP Diamer, PTI local leader Shah Nasir, and others reached Chilas for talks. They negotiated with the armed protesters, and in light of the negotiations, the armed group ended the protest on the Babusar highway and restored the road for traffic, after which Senior Minister was also freed.

It should be clear that in all this situation, the reports of the abduction and hostage-taking of the senior minister by the government have neither been confirmed nor denied, however, the senior minister has made it clear that the protestors have taken us to their site. They kept us and gave us respect and there was no problem. He told that the protesters were requesting us to convey our demands to the government.