R C GANJOO
People Rights Movement GB has decided to organise all political parties’ conference on 28th April in Pakistan-occupied Gilgit to highlight the socio-political conditions that have deteriorated in multiple aspects.
On one hand, the region has lost its political identity and remained in a constitutional whirlpool for almost seven decades, on the other hand, disunity due to sectarian and lingual basis has impeded the development of the region.
Whereas, no progress in socio-economic and political areas has been made.
According to Ibrahim Nagri, Chairman of People Rights Movement GB, about 18 political parties invited will also appeal to the opposition parties to move a no-confidence motion against the present dispensation in GB.
The GB having 33 member house is ruled by PTI Chief Minister Khalid Khurshid who has 22 members and the others are Pakistan Peoples Party (5) Pakistan Muslim League (N -3), Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (1)Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) (1) Independent (1).
The people of this region in one voice say that the present Chief Minister has not come to the expectation of people.
The political parties likely to attend the conference are Muslim League ( N) ,Peoples Party,Thariq –e- Insaf,Islamic Thareik,JUI ( F),Jammat Islami’, Peoples Rights Movement,Karakoram National Movement and Balwaristan National Front ( Naji).
All Balwaristtan Movement ,Awami Action Committee Gilgit Baltistan,Gilgit Baltistan Bachow Teherik,Awami Action Rherik,Nagar Youth organisation,Demer Youth Organisation ,Teheik E Tafauz, Bar Students Organisation and Awami Workers Party are also expected to attend the conference.
Lately, the new Pakistan government’s proposal to scrap the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Authority (CPECA) has given a sigh of relief to the people of Gilgit Baltistan.
Due to the presence of Gilgit-Baltistan among the eastern powers of the world, no one can deny the geo-strategic and socio-economic significance of the region.
In the eyes of defence analysts, it has become a universal fact that in the coming days and years the region would prove as a battlefield for the regional and non regional powers.
The people of GB were cheated in the name of CPECA, which was run by the Pakistan Army, and did not involve the region as the main stakeholder in the mega project.
Politically, PTI pursued the incomplete agenda of the Muslim League (N), to bring the Land Reform Act in Gilgit Baltistan aiming at making the people landless.
According to Showkat Inqulabi, prominent writer and political thinker, said, “New Delhi has never accepted Pakistan’s move to make it a separate entity from PoK.
“In March 2006, when reports appeared about the circulation of a map depicting Gilgit-Baltistan as a separate unit from PoK, India had asserted that the region of Gilgit-Baltistan is a part of J&K and thus an integral part of India on the basis of its accession in 1947.
“Pakistan has failed to invest in the region and provide even the most basic services such as education and healthcare.
“Its token Assembly is largely symbolic, as its decisions are required to be approved by Pakistan’s federal government. The region is deprived of the revenue generated by trade with China — valued at about half a billion dollars.”
