Daily Times

It was the night of 31 October, 1947, when Gilgit Scouts surrounded the house of the dogra governor of Gilgit Brigadier Ghansara Singh. On the morning of 1 November, 1947, governor Brigadier Ghansara Singh surrendered to Gilgit Scouts. It was an auspicious morning when the Dogra flag was pulled down and Pakistan’s flag was raised. Immediately on taking control of Gilgit, the interim setup sent a special courier to Pakistan for taking over the administration of the area. On 3 November, 1947, Dogra and Sikh troops of 6 Jammu and Kashmir Battalion of State Force fled and deserted Bunji Cantt. Subsequently, the liberation forces under the able command of officers of 6th Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit Scouts liberated the remaining area fighting against the weather, the terrain and logistics. Skardu was liberated exactly after one year of Pakistan’s independence on 14 August, 1948. It is interesting to note that the people of Gilgit Baltistan liberated 28000 Sq miles of the area without any external help and joined Pakistan unconditionally because of their love for Islam and Pakistan. After independence Gilgit Baltistan was placed under the administrative control of the North West Frontier Province (KPK). In March 1948, an agreement was signed between the government of Pakistan and Azad Kashmir; during which the administration of Gilgit Baltistan was transferred to Pakistan and in this agreement there was no representation of Gilgit Baltistan. Moreover, in 1950, control of Northern Areas (Gilgit Baltistan) was transferred from North West Frontier Province (KP) to the ministry of Kashmir affairs and the area remained under Frontier Crimes Regulations (FCR) for quite some time. Successive governments tried to mainstream the region through different political, administrative, social and Judicial reforms. The first major, political, administrative and judicial reforms were introduced in 1975. However major steps were taken when ‘Empowerment and Self Governance Order- 2009’ was introduced. The ‘Northern Areas’ were renamed as Gilgit-Baltistan giving it a province like status. The 2009 order was replaced by yet another Order in 2018, introduced by the government of Nawaz Sharif. The new order sparked a new debate and protests across Gilgit Baltistan by opposition parties, civil society and lawyers termed it Prime Minister Centric. It was also alleged that the Prime Minister enjoys final authority on legislation and policies. However, the Supreme Appellate Court of Gilgit Baltistan in its Judgment set-aside the 2018 order and rule that order 2009 shall remain in force in the region. However, the Supreme Court of Pakistan suspended the Judgment of Gilgit Baltistan Supreme Appellate Court’s decision to set-aside the Gilgit Baltistan order 2018.

The people of Gilgit Baltistan are completely loyal to Pakistan as there is no anti Pakistan sentiment or slogan against CPEC. The people of Gilgit Baltistan feel highly privileged in holding Pakistan’s flag as high as possible.

The Chief Justice of Supreme Court remarked that the people of Gilgit Baltistan shall have the same fundamental rights which are enjoyed by people across Pakistan.The demand of people of Gilgit Baltistan is that they should be declared constitutional citizens of Pakistan and Gilgit Baltistan should be merged with Pakistan. The so called nationalist are trying to exploit the constitutional status to their benefit although sub nationalists do not enjoy any significant support in Gilgit Baltistan. In 2017, Inspector General of the Police in Gilgit Baltistan confirmed that India is funding sub nationalists in Gilgit Baltistan and in January, 2017, Gilgit Baltistan police foiled a plan supported by RAW to sabotage CPEC.

12 people were arrested from Yasin valley and a large quantity of weapons/anti-state literature was also seized during the raid. It was also revealed by the police that those arrested had received funds from RAW to sabotage CPEC and were also planning to attack a Jamaat Khana in district Ghizer and in other parts of Gilgit Baltistan to trigger sectarian unrest.

Recently Gilgit-Baltistan police blocked over 140 social media accounts for allegedly spreading material against national security, state and religious hatred. Times of India portrayed a video (by election rally) in Gilgit as an uprising against Pakistan. Awami Action Committee of Gilgit Baltistan denied allegations by Indian media, stating that the strikes were against new taxes and not against Pakistan.

At the same time, India is ignoring the fact that within India there are over 100 separatist movements asking for basic human rights and independence. Some of the so called nationalist who have taken refugee in western countries are launching false campaigns to malign Pakistan and pollute the minds/creating misperception in the mind of people of Gilgit Baltistan.

The anti Pakistan forces have accelerated their efforts to destabilize Pakistan by damaging/sabotaging CPEC projects by backing so called sub-nationalist in the region. To counter India’s hostile propaganda, our media must play a proactive role to expose the real Indian designs and conspiracies against Gilgit Baltistan. The people of Gilgit Baltistan are completely loyal to Pakistan as there is no anti Pakistan sentiment or slogan against CPEC. The people of Gilgit Baltistan feel highly privileged in holding Pakistan’s flag as high as possible. At the same time the constitutional status needs to be addressed by the government according to wishes of people of Gilgit Baltistan. A provisional/interim province like status may be given linking it with the final settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir issue. Representation in the National Parliament may be given according to its population by electing three members from each division of Gilgit Baltistan. Proper representation may also be given in National Economic Council (NEC), Council of Interest (CCI) and Indus River System Authority (ISRA) with the power to participate in decision making. We hope that the Prime Minister Imran Khan will steer Gilgit Baltistan in the right direction.

The writer is a retired brigadier and is presently serving as a commissioner for the Afghan refugees organization balochistan

Published in Daily Times, October 20^th 2018.