Who’s to blame for 61 years of deprivation

May 9, 2008 at 12:28 pm (EDITORIAL)

Weekly Bang-e-Sahar Saturday, May 10—-May 16 ,2008
Editorial

Gilgit-Baltistan has remained a victim of human, social, economic and political exploitation for the last 61 years due to stubbornness of both Pakistan and India. Moreover, there is a danger to the very identity and survival of the region. With the division of the Subcontinent in 1947 the imperialist powers of the world divided the states on the basis of their likes and dislikes and the future of Gilgit-Baltistan fell prey to the great game in the region. Before 1947, this region saw small-scale wars in which the local people without difference of color, race and religion fought and defeated the invaders for the collective good of the area. But after partition of the Subcontinent in 1947, not only the newly-liberated democratic region was attacked on November 16, 1947 but also all means were utilized to convert the area into a colony by adopting a number of bogus agreements keeping the people in the dark. Besides, conspiracies were also hatched to divide the local people. The masses first demanded their basic rights and the government promised that they would be given all the rights like roads, schools, hospital etc., step by step. When the people realized that outsider bureaucrats and rulers cannot ensure their rights, they demanded that the region should be made a province. On this the rulers said it would damage the cause of Kashmir. Then the masses said give us an Azad Kashmir-type of setup. The rulers started to delay the issue on one pretext or the other. On the whole, the government had neither a program in the past nor it has it today to end the deprivations of the people. But to kill two birds with one stone, the government sowed the seed of sectarianism in the area which made the future of Gilgit-Baltistan a big question mark. Now the people are justified to ask whether constitutional packages and agreements are enough to end the over 60 years long deprivations. Can the people meet the challenges of the 21st century without having even basic facilities. Is it possible to decide the future of over two million people without their consent. These are the questions which have now developed into a lava that can any time burst out. We understand that the future of this region does not lie in construction of roads, power houses and other projects but is liked with the right of self-rule. History tells us that no nation gives sacrifices to make itself a part of others but strives to gain freedom. On the other hand, history is also witness to the fact that to enslave the people of an area they are entangled in petty issues so that they cannot come out of the mess to ask for major rights.We would like to advise the democratic government of Pakistan to understand the realities of the present-day world which has shrunk into a global village. In today’s world no nation can be kept in the dark, so the rulers should transfer self-rule rights to the people of Gilgit-Baltistan as a first step. Because constitutional packages cannot safeguard the future of the people and their identity. Till the resolution of the Kashmir issue the constitution-less Gilgit-Baltistan should be given a setup under which the people could run their day-today affairs. They should also have the right to utilize their resources as they wish.

Comments

Karachi Pact a conspiracy,say speakers

May 9, 2008 at 12:25 pm (NEWS)

Weekly Bang-e-Sahar Saturday, May 10—-May 16 ,2008

By Our Correspondent

 

    GILGIT: Terming the 1949 Karachi Agreement a fraud and conspiracy of the governments of Pakistan, speakers at a public gathering here said if delaying tactics continued in determining the status of the region, a civil disobedience movement would be launched in the area.

    The public gathering was organized by the Gilgit-Baltistan Democratic Alliance in connection with the 59th anniversary of the Karachi Agreement.

    Those who spoke on the occasion included Ghulam Shahzad Agha, Engineer Amanullah Khan, Col (retired) Nadir Hassan Mirza, Mumtaz Hussain Nagari, Engineer Manzoor Hussain Parwana, Baba Jan, Shah Rais, Wazir Shafi, Israruddin Israra and Haji Mohammad Hassan.

  They said Gilgit-Baltistan was the last colony of the world, where people have been kept deprived of their basic rights for the last over 60 years. They said our forefathers had never opposed Pakistan but the successive governments have termed the region disputed and usurped the political, constitutional, social and economic rights of the people besides violating basic human rights.

   They said when we ask for our rights, we are pushed to the walls on the pretext of the Kashmir dispute. They said in the Indian side of Kashmir people were given all basic rights and facilities while in the Pakistan side a constitutional setup was also working in Azad Kashmir Kashmir. However, people of Gilgit-Baltistan have been denied all basic rights. They said divided families on both sides of Kashmir were being allowed to meet each other but those in Kargil and Baltistan have been deprived of this right too.

   They said the coalition government has tendered an apology to the Baloch people and issued orders to release all Baloch nationalist leaders. They said the government should also apologize to the nationalist leaders of Gilgit-Baltistan and withdraw fake cases registered against their leaders. They said nationalist leader Abdul Hamid Khan has been living in exile due to registration of bogus cases against him. They said all such cases against Hamid Khan should be withdrawn forthwith and he should be allowed to return to the country without any fear and apprehension.

   The speakers said they supported the seven-zone formula of President Musharraf for the solution of the Kashmir issue. They said people of the region should unite in one platform to attain their rights which have been denied to them due to the conspiracies of the federalist forces.

Comments

Withdraw troops, hand over powers to Gilgit-Baltistan: BNF chief

May 9, 2008 at 12:20 pm (NEWS)

Weekly Bang-e-Sahar Saturday, May 10—-May 16 ,2008

Balawaristan National Front (BNF) Chairman Abdul Hamid Khan has demanded withdrawal of troops from Gilgit-Baltistan and handing over of powers to the local people.
In his telephonic address to the participants of a seminar organized by the Balawaristan National Students Organization (BNSO) in Lahore in connection with the Karachi Agreement of April 28, 1949, Mr Khan also demanded that work on Diamer Dam should be stopped till resolution of the disputed status of the region.
He said after a long time when a democratic coalition has come to power in Pakistan he was addressing his brothers, sisters and elders through the platform of the BNSO. Mr Khan said he considered himself a servant of the brave people of Gilgit-Balawaristan and in this capacity has been working for the achievement of people’s rights due to which he has been compelled to live in exile since March 1999.
“We have assembled today to commemorate an event which occurred on April 28, 1949 and shattered our dreams.” He said Gilgit-Baltistan was liberated on November 1, 1947 due to the bravery of our sons. Though the story of the bravery of our soldiers is historical but the political vacuum at the time cost us dearly. The only reason for the political defeat at that time was that we were not politically mature. We had plenty of brave soldiers but had no political leadership. As a result, a lowly naib tehsilder sent from the NWFP to help us in administrative affairs became our ruler by dividing our nation on sectarian lines. Then on November 19, 1947 a secession document was got signed through the fake signatures of Mir Shaukat Ali Khan of Nagar and Mohammad Jamal Khan, the Mir of Hunza. Even Quid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah’s signature was also shown on the paper dated December 7, 1947. The drama did not end here. On April 28, 1949, the Karachi Agreement came into effect, which was signed by Pakistan’s minister without portfolio Mushtaq Ahmed Gurmani, Muslim Conference’s Chaudhry Ghulam Abbas, and the president of the so-called Azad Kashmir Sardar Ibrahim. It is another matter that Sardar Ibrahim later declared his dissociation from the document. It should be clarified that the United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan (UNCIP) resolution was clear on the issue which says: “Pending a final solution, the territory evacuated by the Pakistan troops will be administered by the local authorities under the surveillance of the Commission (UNCIP).” 
He said successive governments in Pakistan have claimed that they were not allowed to complete their tenures and would have solved the issue of Gilgit-Baltistan if they had been given a chance to complete their terms. He said now the PPP and the PML-N have formed a coalition government and should not make any excuse and solve the issue once and for all. He said recently federal minister Qamaruz Zaman Kaira visited the region and under the Musharraf package took oath as chairman of the Northern Areas Council. (I still call it council because it is devoid of powers to be called an assembly). Earlier, the chief executive had absolute powers, while now under the new package powers have been vested in the office of the chairman and the local CE remains powerless. It is unfortunate that whenever they introduce a package, real powers are concentrated in Islamabad and locals are made deprived of all rights.
Mr Khan referred to Mr Kaira’s statement in Gilgit in which he termed the issue of giving provincial status to the region a sensitive one, and said he was in agreement with the minister because Pakistan cannot separate Gilgit-Baltistan from the issue of Kashmir and cannot make the region its province before resolution of the Kashmir issue. However, Islamabad can give a special provincial status and Azad Kashmir-type of setup to the area without any hindrances. For this there are no constitutional hitches because in the constitution of Pakistan there is no mention of Gilgit-Baltistan. But it will be much better if Pakistan withdrew its troops from the region in accordance with the UN resolutions and the ceasefire agreement to which Pervez Musharraf has also referred.
After withdrawal of troops, powers should be transferred to the local people under the surveillance of Pakistan and the UN observers. 
He appealed to the coalition government that considering the sensitivity of the region work on Diamer Dam should be stopped till the issue is resolved.
He said undue interference by security agencies in the affairs of the people had badly affected people’s lives. He said those responsible for kidnapping GBDA Chairman  Ghulam Shahzad Agha in 2005  should be exposed and fabricated cases against him be dropped.

Comments

New port management wins first round

May 9, 2008 at 12:16 pm (NEWS)

Weekly Bang-e-Sahar Saturday, May 10—-May 16 ,2008 

By Our Reporter

ISLAMABAD: The government has ordered to maintain status quo in the affairs of the Sost Dry Port Trust. It, however, allowed the new management of the Trust to continue to run the port affairs till court decision expected on May 16.

This was decided at meeting held here on Monday at the Kashmir and Northern Areas Affairs Ministry under the chairmanship of the KANA Division Secretary Salman Siddiq.

This is being described as a victory for the new management of the Sost Dry Port Trust and the people of Hunza-Gojal.

The officials of Northern Areas administration, including chief secretary and deputy commissioner gave presentation about the issue, sources privy to the meeting told Dawn.

The former management team - Saleem Khan, Barkat Ali and Shabaz Khan - staged a walk out when they found themselves in a tight position and could not answer to the points raised at the meeting, the sources said.

They made unconvincing attempts to counter the arguments and reports of the local administration and the port’s new management.

The KANA secretary and other officials posed many pertinent questions about the affairs of the project but Mr Saleem and his team were unable to satisfy them. In this embarrassing situation Mr Saleem Khan and his team left the scene making it appear as if he was walking out under protest, the sources said.

The delegation of the newly-elected Board of Trustees comprised of Nazir Sabir, Wazir Baig, Ghulam Mohammad, Hur Shah, Advocate Ehsan Ali, Darvesh Ali, Shafa Ali, Mirza Hassan, Aziz Jan, Gul Sher.

The Chinese side could not come to attend the talks. They had sent a message that since this was a dispute between the people of Hunza on their 40 per cent share there presence at the meeting was not required.

The board of trustees’ team also briefed media at a news conference at Islamabad Press Club later in the day about the issue. “The people of Northern Areas who have long suffered from gross and unpardonable neglect under different administrations consider the formation of the coalition government in Islamabad a good omen and hope that the new leadership will deliver us from the injustices of the last many years during which some of our longstanding problems have continued to aggravate”, they said. The neglect of past regimes was compounded by the anti-people policies and misrule of the Ghazanfar-led PML government that was installed through a rigged election and subsequent horse trading in 2004, they added. One of the many serious issues that have been dogging the people of Hunza-Gojal is the “gross mismanagement” and “irregularities” committed by the former management of Sost Dry Port Trust which has not only disturbed the peace of the region but also jeopardised the friendship of Pakistan and China, they said.

Powerful elements have their own axe to grind and benefit from local unrest. They held Chief Executive of Northern Areas, Ghazanfar Ali Khan, and his family, responsible for the situation who have spoiled this important project by monopolising the management and affairs of the Trust. It may be recalled that the shareholders and landowners held a meeting on April 4 and removed Ghazanfar Ali and his son from their posts and took over the management. Mr Ghazanfar tried to implicate them in ‘false’ cases. But the district and session’s court Gilgit suspended the order of a lower court and restrained the local police from taking any action against the new management till May 16.

The important aspect of Sost Dry Port is its future expected volume and its impact on the local economy. Hunza valley and the whole Gilgit-Baltistan region is situated at the cross roads of international trade linking China and Central Asian States with South Asia, petroleum producing Gulf countries and the West through Gwadar Port.

This economic and energy corridor is being improved with the proposed expansion of Karakoram Highway and planning is in process for railway track, oil and gas pipelines and fibre optic link through the most rugged mountain chain.

They urged the PPP-led coalition government to safeguard the interests of the poor people in a project they had set up on self help basis in expectation of generating resources for the education, health and job opportunities for the people.

They hoped that the rights of the rightful will be restored and all matters settled once for all so that there is no tension in the area and the ties with China are not adversely affected.

Meanwhile a large number of people from Gilgit-Baltistan living in the twin cities staged a protest demonstration against the misrule of the Chief Executive.

They were chanting slogans against the former royal family and demanding a probe into the alleged irregularities in the financial affairs of the Trust and harassment of the people by the chief executive and his family members.

 

 

Comments

‘Secret hands out to divide masses’

May 9, 2008 at 12:11 pm (NEWS)

Weekly Bang-e-Sahar Saturday, May 10—-May 16 ,2008

 

By Our Correspondent

 

GILGIT: Prominent nationalist leader Ali Haider Taj has said the historic public gathering organized by the Gilgit-Baltistan Democratic Alliance on April 28 in Gilgit has perturbed some elements, while many secret hands have again become active to create differences among the masses and sabotage their unity.

    The proof of this is the appearance of a number of hate mongering wall chalkings in many areas soon after this historic public gathering, he pointed out. He said we would knock at the door of International Court of Justice against the secret hands that were hell-bent on spoiling peace of the region.

   Mr Haider cautioned the people of Gilgit-Baltistan against the conspiracies being hatched by the enemies. He said religious leaders, youth and every individual of the region should play their role in promoting unity among the masses.

 

 

Comments

Steps urged to end Ghizer’s problems

May 9, 2008 at 12:08 pm (NEWS)

Weekly Bang-e-Sahar Saturday, May 10—-May 16 ,2008

By Our Correspondent

    GHIZER: The district of Ghizer is considered the most backward area of Gilgit-Baltistan where no serious steps have been taken for the welfare of the people. From health to education department, there has been no satisfactory development in the district.

   When we look at the overall scene of Gilgit-Baltistan, Ghizer is the only area where human rights violations are also the most rampant and widespread.

   This was stated by Husain Ali Khan, an active worker of the nationalist group, while talking to Bang-e-Sahar here. He said small children aged between seven and twenty are working in workshops, hotels, medical stores and other shops due to poverty. When asked, their parents said due to poverty they were unable to send their kids to schools and they were compelled to work and earn a living for the families.

     It may be noted that a horde of NGOs is seen claiming to work for the protection of children’s rights but they have never taken it as their responsibility to work for the welfare of these children.

   Besides, public and private sectors organizations have also failed to bring about a socio-economic change and protect human rights in the area.

   The area people have called upon human rights organizations to look into the increasing human rights violations in Ghizer and prepare a strategy to end them.

 

 

Comments

MRally condemns violence against journalists

May 9, 2008 at 11:58 am (NEWS)

Weekly Bang-e-Sahar Saturday, May 10—-May 16 ,2008

By Our Correspondent

 

GILGIT: The journalists of Gilgit-Baltistan took out a rally from Gilgit Press Club to the Supreme Appelate Court against torture on media persons and gagging of press freedom on the World Press Freedom Day.

   Speakers on the occasion condemned police brutalities against journalists of Gilgit-Baltistan. The rally also condemned torture on two senior journalists in Gilgit and the government’s failure to punish the responsible. They also slammed the police for registering a counter-FIR against the victim media persons despite the court’s directive for registration of a case against the accused policemen.

     At the end of the rally, Gilgit Union of Journalists president Imtiaz Ali Taj and Gilgit Press Club secretary general Manzar Shigri presented an application to the registrar of the court and informed him that the police had continuously violated court orders and protected the policemen and tried to involve the journalists in the case.

   They appealed to the court to take action against the police authorities for committing contempt of court and provide justice to the journalists.

 

Comments

Call to save pay phone cos from bankruptcy

May 9, 2008 at 11:53 am (NEWS)

. Weekly Bang-e-Sahar Saturday, May 10—-May 16 ,2008

By Our Correspondent

    GILGIT: Pay phone companies have provided jobs to thousands of youth in Gilgit-Baltistan. Most importantly, two out of the four pay phone companies in the region are owned by residents of Gilgit.
   Two companies in the telecommunication sector - World Link and Z Tel  - have also provided job opportunities in other parts of the country. However, due to poor policies of the PTCL and SCO and lack of support on part of the ministry of telecommunication, millions of rupees invested by these companies are at stake. Besides, PCO operators are also facing the risk of losing their only source of income due to the crisis. In this regard, the companies concerned alleged that the PTCL and the SCO are putting unnecessary burden on them. They say due to the non-cooperative attitude of the authorities concerned they were at the brink of being defaulters.
   The companies asked the government to take steps to safeguard the interest of the phone companies and extend financial assistance to them from the universal funds, so that the economic future of thousands of families can be safeguarded.

Comments

Brussels moot: an explanation

May 9, 2008 at 11:50 am (ARTICLES)

. Weekly Bang-e-Sahar Saturday, May 10—-May 16 ,2008

Few explanations are necessary to make about the recent conference on Gilgit Baltistan in the European Parliament organized by IKA, as some elements have accused the IKA leaders of downplaying its significance. It is important to mention that the conference on Gilgit Baltsitan in the European Parliament was a significant step in which a large number of members of European Parliament and civil society from Europe participated and expressed their solidarity and support for rights of people of Gilgit Baltistan. This was not an ordinary step especially in terms of Gilgit Baltsitan, which unfortunately remains the most neglected part of divided state Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan. Whereas in 21stcentry people are living without their basic rights and region remains unrepresented and underdeveloped.
Pakistan’s continued apathy towards the region has created political discontentment in Gilgit Baltistan to which Islamabad repressed through oppressive means. IKA recent conference was primarily aimed at to enlighten the European leadership about the legitimate grievances of the people of Gilgit Baltistan and seek their support to pressurise Islamabad to end its discriminatory policies and grant people their basic rights and freedoms. The success of conference have certainly irked the Islamabad’s’ circles as everyone knows that during the EU report on Kashmir by Emma Nicholson, Pakistan ambassador in Brussels had tried to pressurise her to drop Gilgit Baltistan from the report by saying that Gilgit Baltistan was never part of state Jammu and Kashmir. In response to his letter, Emma Nicholson had to reproduce the map of state Jammu Kashmir of 1909 to disprove his assertions that further had put Islamabad in embarrassing situation. Now in order to avert this embarrassment, Islamabad chose to launch a malicious campaign against the IKA organized conference but not by its declared pro-Pakistan Kashmiri’s but through undeclared people those apparently claim to be nationalist but work against the interests and unity of nationalists to serve the interests of Islamabad’s establishment by accusing IKA or any activity that is conducted to promote the identity and entity of Kashmir.
Irony is that these so-called nationalists could never uttered single word on the pro-Pakistan Kashmiri’s conferences that take place regularly in Europe and America and feel no harm but they do not miss any opportunity to accuse IKA or nationalists if they conduct any activity that promotes pro-Kashmir and pro-peace politics that clearly indicates their motives behind such accusations. Their ultimate goal is to deter us from opposing the violence and advocating the pro-people and pro-peace politics that doesn’t suite to their mentors. The politics of distortions is always used to mislead the people and hide the facts.
I have personally always tried to think beyond the party prejudices, and encouraged the broader understanding among the nationalists in order to overcome the conspiracies that are orchestrated to divide the unity and especially weaken the understanding between POK and OGB nationalists. Such people are only instrumental in the hands of anti-nationalist forces to cause the misunderstanding and mistrust to implement their agenda in the shelter of nationalism.  — Mumtaz Khan Toronto

Comments

Text of BNF chief Abdul Hamid Khan’s address to seminar

May 9, 2008 at 11:47 am (ARTICLES)

. Weekly Bang-e-Sahar Saturday, May 10—-May 16 ,2008

My dear brothers and sisters of Gilgit-Baltistan, Chitral and Kohistan and the brave colleagues of Balawaristan National Students Organization (BNS), Asalam Alaikum.
For the first time in ten years I am addressing the people of Gilgit-Baltistan after installation of a democratic government in Islamabad.
My dear brothers and sisters, neither I am a leader nor a Quaid but a servant of the people of my country i.e. Balawaristan. I feel proud of rendering whatever service I can
for my people due to which I have been compelled to live in exile since March 1999.
Ladies and gentlemen, I am not living away from my homeland for the sake of luxury or any other purpose but it is my compulsion. I had been given the option to choose two paths: First that I should compromise on your rights including self-rule and abandon my struggle and live a peaceful life at home and be given all types of facilities. The second option was I be killed and my children and my nation left in the darkness of slavery for ever. However, I went for a third option which was full of dangers and risks. Instead of committing fraud with my people, I found a ray of hope in continuing struggle for their rights and preferred to live an exiled life which I also considered as a religious obligation. This is because of the well wishes and prayers of my brothers, sisters and elders of the great country that today not only I am alive but am addressing you on this occasion. I assure you that as long as I am alive and as long as you are with me, no Pakistani would keep the people of Gilgit-Baltistan in his pocket because I am here in the headquarters of the European Union to convey your voice to the international community.
In this mission, I am not alone but Kashmiri leaders like Sardar Shaukat Ali Kashmiri,  Mumtaz  Khan and Afzal Tahir are with me to convey your voice to the civilized world. I may add that without their contribution it may not have been possible to raise the issue of Gilgit-Baltistan at the European Parliament and world level. You cannot imagine how on the directives of Pakistan dictators secret agencies worked to conceal the Gilgit-Baltistan issue from the international community and spent millions of rupees to press the matter under the carpet and distort our image. Even a propaganda campaign was launched against a respectable member of European Parliament Ms Emma Nicholson. However, the propaganda failed to achieve its designs. Ms Nicholson, who hails from England, succeeded to make the Gilgit-Baltistan issue part of a European Parliament resolution. The resolution was adopted by 522 while only nine votes came against it.  It was due to this reason that visas were denied to the intending participants from Gilgit-Baltistan to attend an international conference on the region at Brussels from April 8-9. We were disappointed at the decision but I congratulate all of you that under the leadership of Sardar Shaukat Ali Kashmir we made the conference a big success. I would also like to inform you how Pakistani security agencies are still hatching conspiracies to remove me from my way. There are also some Kashmir leaders who at the behest of the agencies are spreading propaganda against Sardar Shaukat Ali and me to stop us from raising the Gilgit-Baltistan issue at the international level.
Now I would like to speak on some points relating to the region; for example secession by the Mirs, signature of Quaid-i-Azam, the April 28, 1949 Karachi Agreement, withdrawal of troops from the region, guarantee of human rights, local government and security of borders, etc.
Gilgit-Baltistan got independence on November 1, 1947. But soon due to lack of political leadership among our brave troops a Pathan naib tehsildar sent from the NWFP to help the nascent setup in administrative affairs made himself the ruler of the area after dividing the local people on sectarian lines and started to humiliate the national heroes. Even on November 19, 1947 a form was filled out to cede the region to Pakistan under a single pen and signature in the names of Mir of Nagar Shaukat Ali Khan and Mohammad Jamal Khan of Hunza. Even Governor General Quid-i-Azam’s signature of December 7, 1947 was also shown on the document. As these were not real, the government of Pakistan never produced the documents anywhere as a proof. The matter did not end here; and on April 28, 1947 Pakistan committed yet another fraud using the names of then Kashmir leaders Ghulam Abbas and Sardar Ibrahim Khan. At the same time truce terms had been passed under the United Nations Commission on India and Pakistan (UMCIP) under which Pakistan had to withdraw its troops from Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan within seven weeks. Later, this period was enhanced to 12 weeks on the request of Pakistan. Under the UN agreements human rights and security of boundaries were guaranteed and like in other parts a local government was to be set up in Gilgit-Baltistan under the surveillance of the UN.
Instead of facilitating the withdrawal of its troops and establishment of a local government, Pakistan on April 28, 1949 concocted a fake agreement through its then minister without portfolio Mushtaq Ahmed Gurmani, and the so-called Azad Kashmir president Sardar Ibrahim Khan and Muslim Conference’s Ghulam Abbas by keeping the people of Gilgit-Baltistan in the dark. In article 8 of the so-called pact it is stated that “If the accession papers of Mirs of Nagar and Hunza were correct, what was the need for the government of Pakistan to enter into a secret deal with unconcerned people in the darkness of night.” If these documents carried any legal and constitutional ground why Pakistan never produced them at any level. We should even register cases against all the three persons under the charges of forgery.
KASHMIR ISSUE AND OUR PROBLEMS: As I have mentioned earlier the people of Gilgit-Baltistan have been the biggest victim of the Kashmir issue and in this Pakistan rulers as well as India and the international community are equally responsible. In this process of prolonging slavery, we are also to be blamed. Had we demonstrated sagacity, wisdom and not divided ourselves on sectarian lines we would not have been the last colony of the world in the 21st century and all Pakistani troops and other officials would have been withdrawn from our area in accordance with the UN resolutions and a local government formed under the surveillance of the world body.
GENERAL PROVISSION OF UNCIP: A. The territory evacuated by Pakistani troops will be administered by the local authorities under the surveillance of the commission.
B. It will be made publicly known throughout the state of Jammu and Kashmir that peace, law and order will be safeguarded and that all human and political rights will be guaranteed.
These terms are without prejudice to the territorial and the sovereignty of the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
However, what was done negated all these terms and conditions. Instead of withdrawing troops their number was multiplied. Today 25,000 troops including 5,000 intelligence personnel, 5,000 Rangers and militiamen are deployed in the region. What to talk of provision of human rights, these rights are even not considered at all. We even cannot move the court of law against violations of human rights. We have no political rights. We have no right to elect our representatives. We have no right of adult suffrage. Neither we have our own provincial assembly nor a national assembly or a setup like the senate. Since 1971, our innocent people demanding for their rights have been put behind bars. Instead of safeguarding our borders Pakistan has been involved in conspiring to shrink our borders and encroach upon our land. A vast area of Astore and Baltistan was lost to India during different periods. In 1963; 2500 square miles area of Shamshal in Hunza was handed over to China without bothering to ask anybody from Gilgit-Baltistan. A vast area on Shandur was got occupied by the NWFP, as always the administration officials of Gilgit-Baltistan came from that province and helped Pathans occupy our land. Now in the name of Diamer Dam not only a conspiracy is being hatched to submerge a big chunk of our land but efforts are also being made to destroy our culture, history and identity.
EDUCATION: We have been given a so-called university. As we have been hoodwinked in the name of democracy by giving us a powerless body, the Northern Areas council, we have also been befooled by renaming a degree college as a university. The area has no medical college. An institution with which no technical, engineering college is affiliated cannot be called a university. In the service sector, the local people are being kept in subordinate posts in the police, army and local administration. Powers are vested in non-local officials who treat the area people like slaves.
`SENSITIVE’: Everything is described as right when the question of exploitation comes but we talk of our rights it is pooh poohed as a sensitive issue. We say this area is sensitive, this belongs to us we have been living here for generations and are to live here. You please go back.
SECTARIAN PREJUDICE: This was started in the 1970s by some people. Once a DC from the Northern Areas told his counterpart from Chitral during the Shandur festival that we make five Sunni and five Shia boys fight each other and rule the people without any trouble. This is Pakistani formula to rule.
STATE SUBJECT RULE: By using religion as a weapon, outsiders occupied the local land while in other parts of Kashmir non-locals cannot purchase land.
CONSTRUCTION OF DAMS: It is interesting that when we are deprived of all rights the sensitivity of the region is never talked but when we talk of our rights the authorities take cover under the sensitivity drama. When the Diamer Dam is complete Pakistan would deploy over two divisions of troops on the pretext of protecting the water reservoir because one division each is deployed at Mangla and Turbela dams. Even if one division troops are deployed, not only the culture and history of Diamer would be affected but also the lives and honor of the people there would be unsafe. This can be proved from the kidnapping of GBDA chairman Ghulam Shahzad Agha on April 14. By siding with a Lahori contractor, the Pakistani troops picked Mr Agha on the charge of holding a press conference. You can imagine that when the Diamer Dam is complete what would be the one or two division troops and agency personnel doing there. In 2005, a teacher Bilal Husain was kidnapped by ISI, so that other employees could not stand up against the occupiers like late SSP Amir Hamza.
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OR A PROVINCE: The two almost carry same connotation. But one thing is clear. Pakistan can neither amalgamate Gilgit-Baltistan nor make it a province before the resolution of the Kashmir dispute. Because Islamabad cannot justify its action in front of the international community nor the latter can allow it to happen. Besides, before making the region a province, Pakistan has to amend its constitution which is not possible. Our friends who never stop asking for constitutional rights either forget or want to continue the status quo, otherwise can how they even think of attaining rights under a constitution in which even the name of Gilgit-Baltistan is not mentioned. It is for this reason that Pakistan has been treating the area as its colony. Anti-people laws are enforced without any check in the region. The masses are denied their basic rights some time on the pretext of a sensitive issue and some time terming the region part of the disputed Kashmir. Because of these reasons the BNF only talks of a bright future for the people instead of repeating the mantra of constitutional rights and demanding for a separate province.
My dear brothers and sisters, the NA Council is some time called legislative assembly and legislative council. But the reality can be gauged from a statement of former Pakistan autorney general Chaudhry Mohammad Farooq in the Supreme Court of Pakistan in a writ petition (No 11 and 17 of 1994 through Al-Jehad Trust of Pakistan) filed against denial of basic human rights to the people of occupied Balawaristan (Gilgit-Baltistan) in 1994.
17. Functions of the council - subject to the responsibilities of the government of Pakistan under the UNCIP resolutions, and the orders or directions as may be issued by it, and subject to financial limitations as it may impose from time to time, the following shall be the powers and functions of the council, namely:
a). To make the laws with respect to the municipal functions as may be specified by the government of Pakistan,
b). To perform and exercise all powers and functions which may be exercised and performed by a local council in Pakistan.
We want a constitutional assembly, not a local council. We want an independent legislative assembly which can make laws about all issues of the region without outside interference. This legislative assembly will in no way be in conflict with the parliament of Pakistan because this region is constitutionally not governed by Pakistani constitution and parliament.
JUDICIARY: Both the chief court and the appellate court are a continuation of the former judicial commissioner. For this again refer to the statement of the former autorney general of Pakistan before the Supreme Court.
“2). The chief court Northern Areas shall exercise all powers and perform all functions which were being performed by the court of judicial commissioner being the highest court of judicature in the Northern Areas.”
We want a high court and Supreme Court, NOT the continuation of the judicial commissioner.
We want an independent judiciary along with an independent and powerful legislature which is not a continuation of the judicial commissioner.
We appeal to the democratic government of Pakistan to
1)  Withdraw troops from Gilgit-Baltistan in line with the UN resolution, to which President Musharraf had also referred.
2)  Stop encroaching on Gilgit-Baltistan lan including return of Shandur and halt to work on Diamer Dam. Also give us back the area in Shamshal which was ceded to China. Cancel allotment of land to outsiders and allot the retrieved land among the landless local people.
3)  Make arrangements for holding election to the legislative assembly in the presence of international community representatives and withdraw sedition cases against political leaders of the region.
4)  Set up an independent High Court and Supreme Court and appoint local judges on merit not on the consideration of political and religious connections.
At last, I would like to convey my message to the sisters, brothers, elders and youth of the region that they should foil all designs of their enemies who want us divided on sectarian lines, use your cognitive power and fight against the present-day shenanigans as the enemy can be very close to you, be careful the enemy may spread propaganda to enslave you and encroach upon your resources and also play your due role in safeguarding the future of the coming generation and attain self-respect in the world.
Long live Balawaristan.

2 Comments

« Previous entries