How can Pakistan dare to alter the status -quo ante of any area which is in its illegal occupation since 1947-48, was conveyed to Pakistan’s Deputy High Commissioner Syed Haider Shah who was summoned by the Ministry of External Affairs to lodge a strong protest from India over the move of Pakistan relating to administrative authority of the Gilgit Baltistan Council over the region of Gilgit -Baltistan. Pakistan had no locus standi or any legal right to do it and instead, should vacate the occupied territory and hand it over to India.
True to its salt, being antagonistic to the institution of propriety and democratic norms, Pakistan in its recent “order” gave colonial inkling and dictatorial version of things by clipping the local administrative powers in Gilgit Baltistan where the local council was relieved of its powers to deal with various affairs in the region including passing legislation regarding mineral, hydropower, tourism sectors and the like. Even civil Rights Groups in Pakistan have severely criticized the illegal undemocratic and unjustified move.
It may be recalled that on Oct 26, 1947 the entire State of Jammu and Kashmir which includes Gilgit – Baltistan acceded to India and even though the area continues to be under illegal occupation of Pakistan, is in fact, an integral part of India. On these lines, The Ministry of External Affairs conveyed to Pakistan’s envoy Syed Haider Shah that India strongly opposes and rejects such order which amounted to interfering in the status quo of the occupied region.
It may be recalled that Gilgit Baltistan was treated as a separate geographical entity by Pakistan until now. It had bifurcated occupied Kashmir into two administrative parts – Gilgit Baltistan and Pakistan occupied Kashmir. China’s controversial China- Pakistan Economic Corridor passes through the disputed region. Blunders after blunders nothing short of hara- kiri were being committed by Pakistan in this region from time to time for which it shall have to pay heavily.
The malicious and ill intended order under reference, aims at incorporating the region of Gilgit -Baltistan as its fifth state. The blend of aggression and usurpation with intent to fulfilling expansionist ambitions of Pakistan were rejected by the people in many parts of Pakistan like in Peshawar where large groups of protesters clashed with Pakistani Police and many got injuries too. Police had to fire teargas shells and resort to aerial firing which are indicative of the magnitude of protests by the people over there who were demanding constitutional rights for the region. The protesters have resolved to continue their stir till the “package” was revoked and the people given the constitutional rights.
Ever since its illegal occupation, the demographic imbalances were created intentionally by successive rulers of Pakistan in this region and Punjabis and Pathans from Pakistan were settled here in huge numbers to overawe and subjugate the local population. This followed Pakistan abolishing State Subject Rules prevalent there as a part of the State of Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan even gradually removed and erased symbols of their ancient culture and social practices which had a telling effect on their Dardic culture and Shina language.
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