Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 11: A webinar on Gilgit-Baltistan (Jammu & Kashmir: Status & Current Affairs) was organized by Kashmir Policy & Strategy Group (KPSG).
Moderated by Ashok Bhan, Chairman KPSG, eminent panelists spoke on the issue of Gilgit-Baltistan and Pakistan as its occupier.
Welcoming participants, Ashok Bhan gave a background of Gilgit-Baltistan and its legal status. Making a mention of constitutional provision of Pakistan under Article 257, Bhan said the Article states “When the people of the State of Jammu and Kashmir decide to accede to Pakistan, the relationship between Pakistan and that State shall be determined in accordance with the wishes of the people of that State”. He said that Pakistan has always tried to project G-B separately from PoJK.
“Despite PoJK’s Interim Constitution 1974 referring to G-B as part of PoJK, PoJK Legislative Assembly passing a resolution for integration of G-B with PoJK and demands by various sections of the society in this regard, Pakistan never re-united G-B with PoJK,” Bhan said.
He further said that Pakistan also abolished the state subject rule in G-B in 1974 allowing Pakistani Sunnis to settle there, thereby changing the demographic profile of the state by converting the Shia majority into minority over the years.
On demographic change in Gilgit-Baltistan, Barrister Hamid Bashani, a native from PoK and a Human Rights Advocate said G-B people have been agitating against the abolition of “state subject law” by Pakistan which has adversely affected the demographic character of G-B.
Referring to the UN Resolutions, Junaid Mir, President JK Workers Party said Pakistan has been claiming J&K status as UN recognized “international dispute” and that India cannot “unilaterally” change the status of the State including its constitutional status, external boundaries and the rights of people of J&K.
He asked Pakistan to explain how it segregated Gilgit Baltistan from PoJK thereby bifurcating and changing the boundaries of the State; under what provisions Pakistan gifted a part of the so called “disputed state” to China in 1963 and why Pakistan abolished the state subject rule in Gilgit-Baltistan in 1974?
Another eminent panelist who spoke on the occasion was Prof Javed Kakroo, Secretary Kashmir Voice International who spoke on exploitation of natural resources of PoJK (including G-B) by Pakistan.
Dr. Q.A Aashob, JK Civil Society leader also spoke on the occasion.
Follow our WhatsApp channel