THE people of Gilgit-Baltistan liberated their land from Dogra rula and joined Pakistan in October 1947. It was made a separate administrative unit in 1970 and given the name ‘Northern Areas’.

The land and its people are fiercely patriotic while its sons have laid down their lives by the thousands for Pakistan, most recently. Despite all sacrifices the region still awaits to fulfill its dream of becoming a province.

Even after 70 years, Gilgit-Baltistan has a tenuous relation with the federal capital and is lacking basic fundamental as well as constitutional rights.

The fate of more than 2.5 million people who are patriotic Pakistanis is tied one way or the other with the stalemated Kashmir issue. In other words, the GB people are at the mercy and wishes of the people of Kashmir. It is strange that Azad Jammu and Kashmir is enjoying an autonomous status while we have been kept in limbo, despite the fact that the disputed territories also have an internationally recognised status.

The Gilgit-Baltistani people’s patience with Pakistan’s government is not infinite and seven decades should be enough to grant full citizenship. The callousness shown by Islamabad is only acting as fuel to fan resentment that one prays does not turn into disenchantment.

My people hope our pleas are heard and I end with a vociferous Pakistan Zindabad!

Zakir Hussain Baig

Islamabad

Published in Dawn, January 5th, 2019