ISLAMABAD: People of Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) living in the federal capital along with caretaker ministers on Saturday staged a protest demonstration outside the National Press Club, demanding provincial status for the area.

The protest was organised amid opposition by several groups, mainly some religious segments, who claimed that granting a provincial status to GB could sabotage Pakistan’s stance on the issue of Kashmir.

Since the protest was not organised by any political group, the lead was taken by members of the media and civil society belonging to GB.

One of the orgnisers was the Gilgit-Baltistan Journalist Forum.

“We have been the most peaceful people in Pakistan, but most of the citizens of the country do not know that our elders made sacrifices and voluntarily joined Pakistan not even seeking any reward in return,”said Ghulam Abbas, the president of the forum.

Say grant of a provisional provincial status to GB would never affect Pakistan’s Kashmir cause

“However, we see that there are certain elements opposing a provincial status for GB, and that is why we have decided to raise our voice.”

He added; “We have been part of Pakistan, our people never caused embarrassment to the country by indulging in terrorism, anti-state activities or causing any kind of trouble for China.”

The protesters held placards and banners inscribed with slogans in favour of Gilgit-Baltistan becoming a province. The participants also chanted slogans in support of the government’s decision to make Gilgit-Baltistan a constitutional province.

The speakers said granting constitutional status of a province to GB was the right of the people of the area. They lauded efforts of the federal government and Pakistan Army in this regard.

Addressing the protesters, Abdul Jahan, the caretaker education minister of GB, said people of GB had been deprived of their due rights for over 70 years because they had already made their choice to be part of Pakistan.

“There is no crisis over GB; our Legislative Assembly has passed three unanimous resolutions under different governments demanding provincial status,” Mr Jahan said.

He said the grant of a provisional provincial status to GB would never affect the overall Kashmir cause.

Ali Mohammad Jan, another caretaker minister, said the proposed provisional provincial set-up would not only address the constitutional demands of the people of GB but would also protect their rights to take part in a plebiscite on Kashmir whenever it takes place.

Mr Jan said agents of Indian spy agency were spreading anti-Pakistan rumours and propagating against the rights of the people of GB, and that was because GB was strategically a very important place for the country.

Earlier, Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Ali Amin Khan Gandapur had said the PTI government was going to give a provisional provincial status to GB as per demand of the people.

Published in Dawn, October 4th, 2020