LAHORE: A group of political activists belonging to Gilgit-Baltistan on Sunday protested outside the Press Club, demanding internal autonomy for the area.

The protesters, mostly students, expressed their deep concern over the lingering constitutional and political issues of the region.

They said that in the light of the recent decision by the Supreme Court of Pakistan, which declared the G-B a disputed region, the area should be given autonomy.

Their demands included complete internal autonomy for G-B with its own constitution to drafted by the members of constituent assembly elected by the people of the region. The elected body of legislators should be responsible for ensuring the ownership of resources, they demanded.

They also demanded immediate release of all political prisoners of G-B, including Baba Jan, Iftikhar Hussain, Sheikh Hassan Johary as they were prosecuted through the Anti-Terrorism Act of Pakistan which, they argued, after the Supreme Court verdict was not applicable to the region.

The protesters categorically rejected presidential order from Pakistan and demanded their own constitution to govern the region.

They demanded that only defence, foreign affairs and currency should be the subjects of Pakistani government which would be responsible to facilitate these measures as it was signatory to the UNCIP resolutions.

They said the UN should appoint its body to monitor the elections for the G-B constituent assembly.

The demands were forwarded by the Awami Workers Party (AWP-GB), Progressive Youth Movement (PYM-GB), National Students Federation (NSF-GB) and Youth of Gilgit-Baltistan residing in Lahore.

Published in Dawn, January 21st, 2019