July 19, 2008	Saturday	Rajab 15, 1429

SKARDU, July 18: A special meeting here on Friday claimed that Deosai plateau was historically, legally and geographically part of Skardu and the participants of the meeting vowed to defend this part at any cost.

The meeting was held in the district council hall with Skardu district council chairman Raja Jalal Hussain Maqpoon in the chair.

The meeting was arranged to reiterate the claim on Deosai by Skardu district which was participated by former deputy chief executive of Northern Areas and member Northern Areas Legislative Assembly (NALA) Haji Fida Mohammad Nashad, Wazir Willayat Hussain NALA member, PPP Northern Areas’ general secretary Syed Mehdi Shah, all members of Skardu district council and notables of Skardu in large number.

The meeting was also addressed by Haji Fida Mohammad the member of the commission formed by Northern Areas administration for the resolution of the Deosai dispute between Skardu and Astore.

He said that Deosai was historically part of Skardu as in olden days a prince of Maqpon dynasty of Skardu had gone to Astore and settled there and thus the present Raja of Skardu still receiving property tax from Astore.

He said historical facts and written documents showed that Deosai was part of Skardu. Giving examples, he said, survey of Pakistan and survey of India had in their maps mentioned Deosai in the vicinity of Skardu.

A professor of geography belonged to Astore had prepared maps in which he included Deosai in Skardu. Moreover, maps and atlas of Tourism Development Board have shown Deosai in the area of Skardu. Mr Nashad further said that according to revenue documents Deosai is the summer pasture of several towns of Skardu and part of Baltistan.

Later, the participants of the meeting in their individual views vehemently opposed and criticised the Astore claim over Deosai plateau.

They said Deosai was owned by the people of Baltistan and the mountain pastures of Shila, Dooru, Gultaly, Sadpara, Shigari, Kharpito, Tandal, Chunda and Skardu and they would foil each bid aimed at getting possession of this plateau. They said the Astore claim over Deosai was baseless and false.

The participants of the meeting formed a body named “committee for defence of the rights of Deosai” and resolved to continue their struggle for Deosai defence.