Political activist and senior advocate Zahoor Karim has strongly condemned the ongoing harassment of young traders at the Pakistan-China border and warned to launch a protest movement in the Hunza region of Pakistan – occupied Gilgit Baltistan(PoGB
In a statement, Advocate Zahoor highlighted the severe limitations imposed on border pass issuance, particularly the controversial 5 million transaction requirement, which he called unconstitutional
Zahoor Karim described these conditions as a deliberate attempt to create unrest among the youth and undermine peace
in the region. The imposition of unnecessary taxes and barriers for legitimate trade, he argued, is unfairly affecting the local youth who depend on cross-border commerce for their livelihoods
Karim demanded immediate intervention from the federal and provincial governments, as well as the other relevant authorities, to revoke the unconstitutional conditions and establish a sub-office in the district to streamline the issuance of border passes. He also called for the protection of the youth’s rights under international laws.
He criticized the authorities for focusing on harassing legitimate traders instead of addressing illegal activities. Advocate Zahoor warned that continued harassment would provoke a strong reaction from the local community.
The protest movement, according to the lawyer, will serve as a powerful reminder to authorities that the rights of the district’s youth must be respected. If not addressed, the movement will press the federal and provincial governments to make critical decisions regarding border trade and guarantee the youth’s legitimate rights to participate in it