The Gilgit-Baltistan’s Conundrum

 


The residents of ill-fated Gilgit could easily hear hovering helicopters , the loud music, and echoing slogans raised during parade rehearsal and witness the VIP movement on Shahrah e Quaid 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 are going to deliver speeches to glorify the freedom fighters.They will lay wreaths on their graves to pay homage to their bravery and valor against the adversary. 

Thanks to the Federation that it validates the sacrifices of our national heroes and freedom fighters. Therefore, the Independence Day of Gilgit-Baltistan is celebrated at State level every year.

The State also showcases the natural resources, minerals, and beauty of our icy mountains, cascading streams, and mesmerizing landscapes on international forums to improve the soft image of Pakistan but the misery is- it has still been unable to pull the region from constitutional limbo for more than 75 years now. 

Gilgit-Baltistan with poor infrastructure and unfavorable facilities in health and education is still considered an under-developed ,far flung area rather a tourist spot which is only ideal for elite to breathe in fresh air in the mountains.

Though Gilgit-Baltistan has been administered by the Federation of Pakistan, yet it has not been given constitutional rights because the issue of Gilgit-Baltistan is one way or other linked to the Kashmir dispute. Therefore 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 plebiscite over the Kashmir dispute the Pakistan has been optimistic about to garner more votes and merge whole Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan into Pakistan has already taken 75 years, for how long people of Gilgit-Baltistan have to suffer at the behest of the Kashmir dispute?

The people of Gilgit-Baltistan want parliamentary representation,self-determination and 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.

Why can't Pakistan give provisional province or status like Azad Jummu and Kashmir to Gilgit-Baltistan?

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

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 to manipulate the brave people every now and then.Also ,the Federation should go beyond the cosmetic arrangements to decide the fate of the 2 million populace of the region.

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