United Kashmir

It is almost now sixty some years gone that the Government of Pakistan admitted its’ illegal occupation of Azad Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan and promise to withdraw its troops as well as its people who had been involved in violent activities.  The people of Gilgit Baltistan are fully entitle as UNCIP resolution to run their affairs without any foreign influence or interference and they are fully capable and matured enough to run their affairs by themselves.  The presence of Pakistani authority had been and still are the threat to the life and property of the people and detrimental to the economic well-being. The actions are louder than the talks and hallow claims.  They have bitter experience for 60 some years to trust the hallow claims from Islamabad.

The high claims’ of empowerment is nothing more than another attempt of deception by expressing a colonial behavior, that, a governor, to be appointed by the president and the prime minister has been made the supreme authorities. The Gilgit – Baltistan Council would be chaired by the prime minister, who will not be elected by votes, direct or indirect, of the people of Gilgit – Baltistan, while an un-elected governor, to be appointed by the president, would act as vice – chairman of the council. This arrangement s being seen as a major ploy to control the elected representatives of Gilgit – Baltistan. The Pamir Times Blog, www.pamirtimes.net, exposed the new package in the following words:- 

“It is for the very first time, in history of the country, that a serving federal minister has been appointed governor of a political entity within Pakistan.

A new designation, called Chief Minister, has been created but the CM would not be authorized to form his cabinet. The governor would form a cabinet, albeit with “advise” of the chief minister. Also, the legislative assembly would not be able to elect the chief minister. He would be selected by the Gilgit – Baltistan Council.  This power mechanism is also being seen as an explicit example of asserting real power players, in the future setup. It is being strongly felt that a powerful governor and a weak chief minister would overrun expectation of autonomy, at the grass roots, making the entire promise delusional and fraught with contradictions.

The Gilgit – Baltistan Legislative Assembly, not authorized to discuss a large number of vital issues related to governance of the region, would comprise of thirty eight members. Twenty four out of these thirty eight members would be elected directly from the districts, while six females and, according to some reports; three technocrats would also be part of the assembly. Two new seats have been added, one each for women and technocrats.

Some analysts are terming this a package for the region’s political elite, with no real benefit for the impoverished people of Gilgit – Baltistan. 

The creation of a separate election commission, increasing the number of judges of the Supreme Appellate Court from 3 to 5 and establishment of a separate public service commission, however, offer some promise for the region, which has now been formally named Gilgit – Baltistan. Nevertheless, these institutions will be of no real significance in the absence of broader rights and authorities of real decision making. 

Some quarters are seeing this move to rename a few positions in the region’s political setup and further complicate the hierarchies of democratic decision making, an attempt to divert attention from the issues raised over Diamer – Bhasha Dam, Bonji dam and other smaller dam projects that have been planned in the region.

Let’s remind the readers that Gilgit – Baltistan was a name suggested by the NALA, which has, now, been accepted by the federal cabinet.”  Curtsy Pamir Times Blog.”