Residents of Skardu district in Pakistan's Gilgit-Baltistan recently launched a protest against the local administration over the arrest of prominent activist Shabbir Mayyar.

The activist was demanding opening of the  Skardu-Kargil Road.

The occupied region has long been grappling with severe crises such as high inflation and shortage of commodities, and people have been demanding the resumption of trade with India, reported ANI.

During the protest, the demonstrators blamed the security forces for misusing the Anti-Terrorism Act against the activists and the residents.

The protesters told ANI they believed that the Islamabad-backed local administration in Gilgit Baltistan is against their reasonable demand for the opening of the Skardu-Kargil road and have been arresting those who speak up in their favour.

A local Awami Action Committee leader demanded immediate release of Shabbir Mayyar.

“He (Shabbir Mayyar) is the voice of Gilgit-Baltistan. He should be released immediately. The only crime Shabbir Mayar committed was that he raised a slogan, ‘Aar par Jod do, Kargil border khol do‘ (Remove barricades from the Kargil border and let the people commute). Whoever speaks of the Kargil border is threatened and punished by them,” he was quoted as saying by ANI.

Another local activist told the Indian news agency, “Our community is not afraid of anyone. Rather than listening to the public, they (the administration) are arresting the poor. They think that by arresting poor people, they can scare us. No, we aren’t afraid. We are here to prove them wrong. Through this platform, I announce that we are all with Shabbir Mayar. Unless they are released, we will stand by them.”