In one month traveling by bicycle and motorcycle in Gilgit-Baltistan i never got a security guard provided by police. There were just 2 towns, where i had to registrate at police. (in Tarshing and Astore, police was coming in hotel and ask politely to registrate)
Things will change after you leave Gilgit-Baltistan and you are arriving district of Chitral.
In Mastuj, where i stayed over night, manager of Ptdc Motel informed police, and they send immediately a security guard.
This guy, at least that is which i think, stayed over night in the hotel.
The next day, when i was departing direction Chitral, he accompanied me by his motorbike around 15 km, then he said goodbye and left me going on alone.
When tourists arrive in Chitral, you were prompted to registrate asap at police.
After that you are just alone, if you stay in your hotel room. ;)
At each step outside of your hotel, your guard will be accompaning you.
No difference if you just have a walk in town or if you want to visit the surroundings, like Kalasha valleys.
You might see that also in a positive perspective.
You haven't only a security guard, as well as, you get a kind of tourist guide for free who maybe can even deliver some insights of life here.
These young men are all from the surroundings, and some of them are speaking rather good English and will treat you as V.I.P.
Things will change once more, if you are going from Chitral to Peshawar.
The first surprise happened at the 1st CP. An army CP.
The wanted to see my NOC. Nobody in Chitral told me so, even on the contrary the foreign police officer told me and a police guard was also travelling with me, even cycling is not a problem.
Somehow, i managed after discussing quite a while to go on.
Fortunately on several other CP's nobody wanted to see this paper.
On the way to Peshawar a message reached me from another traveller.
She was just a few days before in this town and reported me how things here are going on.
You can't choose your hotel on your own, you are forced to get a hotel from the midrange, otherwise you have to pay for the stay of your 2 GUARDS (i think, cause only they are secured by police)
She and the manager of hotel Rose (single 900 PR) managed it to check in a without paying a guard, under the condition to guard her himself. (this is so unprofessional, sorry to say that)
I tried yesterday to check in there too, i was refused...
So, these are till now all experiences i made in Pakistan with forced guarding..
Have a nice stay
Helmut
