DEMOCRACY is a rare commodity when it comes to the patriotic people of Gilgit-Baltistan. We cannot vote for any member of parliament and we have no access to Pakistan’s Supreme Court. We will have no role in Pakistan’s largest democratic exercise on July 25.

We can only be spectators. We demand a proper constitutional status so that we can also vote in elections in 2023. We have been facing this crisis since 1947, but we hope that the next elected government will take this issue seriously.

Waqar Ali
Jutial, Gilgit-Baltistan

Published in Dawn, July 22nd, 2018

Opinion

Editorial

Business concerns
Updated 26 Apr, 2024

Business concerns

There is no doubt that these issues are impeding a positive business clime, which is required to boost private investment and economic growth.
Musical chairs
26 Apr, 2024

Musical chairs

THE petitioners are quite helpless. Yet again, they are being expected to wait while the bench supposed to hear...
Global arms race
26 Apr, 2024

Global arms race

THE figure is staggering. According to the annual report of Sweden-based think tank Stockholm International Peace...
Digital growth
Updated 25 Apr, 2024

Digital growth

Democratising digital development will catalyse a rapid, if not immediate, improvement in human development indicators for the underserved segments of the Pakistani citizenry.
Nikah rights
25 Apr, 2024

Nikah rights

THE Supreme Court recently delivered a judgement championing the rights of women within a marriage. The ruling...
Campus crackdowns
25 Apr, 2024

Campus crackdowns

WHILE most Western governments have either been gladly facilitating Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza, or meekly...