The Gilgit-Baltistan’s Conundrum

 



The residents of ill-fated Gilgit could easily hear circling helicopters in the air, the loud music, and echoing slogans raised during parade rehearsal and witness the VIP movement on Shahrah e Qaid e Azam Gilgit before 1 November; the Independence Day of Gilgit-Baltistan.


This day drifts us away to the liberation war of Gilgit-Baltistan when stout-hearted people of the difficult terrain liberated their land from the Dogra rule, governed the area as an Independent State for some days, and later joined Pakistan by choice in 1947.

The unfortunate, patriotic pro-Pakistan people celebrated 14 August with enthusiasm and fervor and are now preparing to celebrate the Independence Day of Gilgit-Baltistan with pomp and show.

The government officials and demagogues will deliver speeches to glorify the freedom fighters and lay wreaths on their graves to pay homage to their bravery and valor against the adversary.

The Federation validates the sacrifices of our national heroes and freedom fighters. Therefore, the Independence Day of Gilgit-Baltistan is celebrated. It further showcases the natural resources, minerals, and beauty of our icy mountains, cascading streams, and mesmerizing landscapes on international forums to attract foreign tourists, but it has still been unable to pull the region from constitutional limbo for more than 75 years now.

Gilgit-Baltistan has been administered by the Federation of Pakistan, but it has not been given constitutional rights because the issue of Gilgit-Baltistan is linked to the Kashmir dispute. The Federation is reluctant to have an impact on Pakistan’s stance on the Kashmir cause. Hence, Gilgit-Baltistan has not been incorporated into the Federation.

The people of Gilgit-Baltistan want parliamentary representation, autonomy, and due share in financial institutions i.e. NFC Award. 

Over the time, the people of Gilgit-Baltistan have been feeling resentment and disappointment after witnessing that India has revoked articles 370 and 35A of her constitution and merged Jammu and Kashmir into India by coercion and using the state’s apparatus.

It probably needs will and pure intention to amend some of the articles of Pakistan’s constitution to integrate Gilgit-Baltistan into the Federation.

The plebiscite over the Kashmir dispute has already taken 75 years, for how long people of Gilgit-Baltistan have to suffer at the behest of the Kashmir dispute?

These are some serious questions the youth of Gilgit-Baltistan have been seeking answers to.

The people in power corridors need to revisit their sugar-coated speeches and the Federation should go beyond the cosmetic arrangements to decide the fate of the 2 million populace of the region.


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