GILGIT, March 29: Complete shutter down strike was observed in main areas of Gilgit city on the call of Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat to protest against the arrest of banned Sipah-i-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP) Gilgit chief Maulana Attaullah Saqib.

The protesters demanded release of the SSP leader, who was taken into custody on Tuesday. The main markets, including Raja bazar, Saddar bazaar, NLI market and shops on Airport Road, remained closed. However, business activities continued as usual in other parts of the city.

Transporters also kept their vehicles off the road to support the strike, which created problems for the commuters, especially the office goers and patients. Meanwhile, the administration has banned pillion riding in the city for next 15 days keeping in view the law and order situation in the region, officials said. In another development, the Gilgit-Baltistan government has suspended deputy superintendent of district jail, Gilgit, Raja Jan Alam after an inmate escaped from the police custody in DHQ hospital the other day. DSP, Gilgit city, Zabihullah has replaced Mr Alam as deputy superintendent of district jail.

COMPENSATION: Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Mehdi Shah has asked the home department to immediately make payment of death compensation to families of the victims of Kohistan killing incident.

Officials said that Mr Shah also directed the authorities concerned to provide job to one legal heir of each victim in the government departments as early as possible. Meanwhile, Governor Karam Ali Shah has summoned the Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly on April 16 on the request of Speaker Wazir Baig, officials said.

VC MEETS STUDENTS: Karakuram International Univrsity vice-chancellor Dr Najma Aziz on Thursday visited Skardu campus of the university and interacted with students to know about their problems. The VC assured the students that now onward classes would be started in time so that they could complete their degrees in due course of time.

She said that the students affairs coordinator for the Skardu campus had been appointed and more staff would be inducted soon. The students complained about shortage of books in the library on which Dr Najma assured them that books would be provided soon.