Islamabad, Sept 12: The people of Gilgit-Baltistan should be given self-rule, or representation in the Azad Kashmir Legislative Assembly till the settlement of Kashmir dispute and restoration of State Subject Rule and basic democratic and human rights in the region.

These were some of the demands made in a resolution by the people from Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir, at a reference in memory of late SSP Amir Hamza here on Tuesday. The programme was organized by the Gilgit-Baltistan and AJK Thinkers Forum in collaboration with the All Parties National Alliance (APNA).

It said that the historic name of Gilgit-Baltistan should be restored and replaced with Northern Areas. It also demanded restoration of seats in educational institutions of the country and allocation of propotional seats in cadet colleges as has been made in Skardu Cadet College, renaming of the police training centre in Gilgit after the name of late Amir Hamza.

The resolution said resources of the area should be properly harnessed and utilized for the development of the area.

The problem of unemployment should be solved and the royalty of Indus River should be given to the its rightful owners.

According to 1997 and 1998 agreement Karakuram Highway should be constructed upto Central Asian States and before Karokuram University, technical and professional colleges should be opened in Gilgit-Baltistan, the resolution added.

Paying tributes to SSP Amir Hamza, the speakers said he was a honest and principled man. He had left an indelible mark on the history of Gilgit-Baltistan. He fought with valour and courage for the rights of the people of Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir. He was a source of inspiration to the new generation. The chairman, Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, Amanullah Khan, said Hamza was a proud son of the soil and had awakened the people from the deep sleep and made them aware of their basic rights.

“Amir Hamza was among the first who provided a political platform to the people of Gilgit-Baltistan and for this he suffered great hardship.

He strongly rejected any division of Kashmir.

Dr Farooq Haider, President JKLF (Yasin Malik Group) said the gathering was a proof of the greatness of Amir Hamza and it was the result of his struggle that all of us from Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir were together. The chairman, APNA, Shaukat Maqbool Butt, said Hamza had the ability to guide people and tried his best to get their basic rights.

The chairman, Gilgit-Baltistan Thinkers Forum, Wajahat Hassan Mirza said Amir Hamza, was a true freedom fighter. He criticized the government for distorting the liberation war history of Gilgit-Baltistan and making British secret agent, Maj Brown as heroe of the area. He also criticized the duplicity of various government on the constitutional status of Gilgit-Baltistan.

The others who speak on the occasion were Nasim Iqbal Advocate, Arif Shahid, Farooq Niazi, Sardar Ishtiaq Hussain, Brig Abdul Rehman Jiral (retired), Abdul Rasheed, Dr Mohammad Sharif, Brig Zakir Hussain (retired) and journalist Habibur Rehman Sulemani, Raja Hussain Khan Maqpoon, Amir Azam and Mohammad Rashid.—Khalid bin Majeed