The question of Pakistan’s illegal annexation of Gilgit Baltistan is becoming the hot subject.  The subject package announced by Islamabad, do not carry any substance in it, that would benefit to the people of Gilgit Baltistan, in particular or the people of the State in general.  The forcibly division of the State for last 62 years, resulted serious hard-ship to the population both in terms of Political, human, economic and cultural rights.  

There is no free movement of goods and services between two parts, resulting in to deprivation of the population of their mutual benefits, in socio-economical, socio-cultural and socio-political development. The means of productions that was by and large, a-kinship-of-small-land-owners subsequently reduced to minimum because of high birth rate and yet not allowed to develop itself from a tribo-agrarian society into and agro-industrial society, the only way to provide job opportunities. This is the reason that in both part of the State, compare to Pakistan and India, there is high owner-ship of the small holdings and low urbanization. In Azad Kashmir, there is 88% ownership, 10% tenant-cum-owner and 2% tenant and more or less the same case with Gilgit Baltistan as well as Indian side.  This approach turned both Azad Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan a free market for goods and services of Punjab and NWFP. 

The public demand in both parts for the reunification started right at the time of the State’s forcibly division.  There are many who gave their lives while defying the force division but neither Pakistan, nor India or even UN ever realized this aspect and never try to understand the local aspiration of the population. The People of Baltistan have long been demanding for the opening of Kargil route.  This demand is in line with UNCIP resolutions.  As per the UNCIP resolutions, there should not be any bar on the free movement of people, services and goods.     

As per news coming out of Gilgit Baltistan, people have rejected the subject package on the plea that no substance but just propaganda of deception, manipulation, disguise of real motives of Islamabad that is well known colonial tactics to delay, divide and rule.  The people in other parts of the state of Jammu and Kashmir are standing by with the people of Gilgit Baltistan.  During the time of Mahraja Government, these areas were given preference in jobs and other opportunities.  The political parties in Indian side of the State are raising their voices to be heard.

In Azad Jammu and Kashmir a part of PoK, many protest rallies been held in support of the people of Gilgit Baltistan for their rights including the right to self-determination.

JK NAP has  given a call to sit-on protest in front of  Pakistani occupied Kashmir Assembly building on Oct 5th, 2009.   Mr. Liaqat Hayyat announced that JK NAP and JK NSF activists, members and leaders will be reaching in Muzaffrabad POK capital city on Oct 5th, from all over POK and will be participating in a sit-on protest.   As their statement “JK NAP made this announced after having a series of demonstrations all over POK areas to denounce proposed fraud Gilgit Baltistan rights package but POK Govt neither condemned it nor separated from this so called package”.  The statement further said that “JK NAP and JK NSF members are ready to confront peacefully, this so called useless assembly and its members have not been doing what they are suppose to be doing and should have been taken up Gitgit Baltistan issue with Pakistani Govt but they have failed to represent the aspirations of POK people”.  Their caravans would be reaching Muzaffrabad, an attempt to expose the puppet rulers.  They also appealed to others to join in.

In Britain, on September the 13th, 2009, the Kashmiri from cross sections, had meet in Birmingham.  There was total unity of thought in supporting the just struggle of the people of Gilgit Baltistan and rejecting the so-called empowerment package.  The participants were of the opinion that this is nothing but an attempt of deception and manipulation of the public opinion in order to disguise the attempt of illegal annexation of Gilgit Baltistan.  They were of the opinion to involving the International Peace Movements and for this they need to organize Kashmiri community. The unity of Kashmiri community would be able  to build and mobilize the International support for the peace movement.  They plan to meet on September the 27th, 2009 to chalk out further actions.

UKPNP, as per the text message by Jameel Latif, organizing a picket protest in front of Pakistan High Commission on September the 24th,  2009, at 2 pm local time. Kashmir International Front (KIF) would join the picket and expecting others to join in.  

The issue is gearing-up and involving people of cross sections of the opinion. In the coming days and months, it is expected that more people would involve.