By IANS,
Islamabad : Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik has stressed the importance of dialogue to solve the deteriorating law and order situation in Gilgit- Baltistan, the Dawn News reported.
Malik met Baltistan’s Chief Minister Syed Mehdi Shah, Governor Pir Karam Ali Shah and other high officials of the newly-declared province Saturday.
“The ministry would provide the list of the alleged miscreants to the ‘jirga’ (the tribal assembly of elders) and it would be their responsibility to make sure their arrest,” he said.
Malik added that if the situation could not be handled through negotiations or jirga’s involvement then the route of military operation could also be opted for.
The minister was holding talks with high officials of the province after sectarian violence erupted in the region two weeks ago, when 18 Shia bus passengers were killed by gunmen after forcing them to disembark on the Karakoram highway.