Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 22: To brutally exploit the rich natural resources, Pakistan is brazenly treating Gilgit-Baltistan like a colony by depriving natives of this region all constitutional and fundamental rights.
This was stated by Capt Alok Bansal, Director, India Foundation and Adjunct Professor, School of Management, New Delhi, while delivering a special lecture, jointly organized by Department of Strategic and Regional Studies (DSRS) University of Jammu and Jammu chapter of Jammu and Kashmir Study Centre (JKSC) at Jammu University, here today.
The special lecturer was organized on “Sankalp Diwas 1994 Parliament Resolution on PoJK”. Vice Chancellor of University of Jammu, Prof M K Dhar presided over the function, attended by members of the civil society and teaching and non-teaching faculty of the University of Jammu.
“Pakistan has been treating Gilgit-Baltistan like a colony”, Capt Bansal said and emphasized on the need of fulfilling commitment made by the Parliament in the year 1994 to liberate the PoJK.
He pointed out that the non-local proportion of the population in Gilgit-Baltistan has increased significantly in recent years since the Pakistan Government was violating a local law called State Subject Rule, which has opened the floodgates of immigration from Pakistan.
“Ethnic minorities are being persecuted in Gilgit-Baltistan by the Pakistani authorities. These minorities suffer violence at the hands of state sponsored militants on a daily basis. These crimes against religious freedom must stop”, he demanded.
He said that Pakistan was shamelessly plundering natural resources in the Gilgit-Baltistan region which includes precious metals like gold, platinum, cobalt and precious gemstones like Topaz and Aquamarine. “On the one hand natural resources in Baltistan are being looted by the Government, while on the other the entire region is being neglected by the Government”, said Capt Bansal, who is an expert of Gilgit-Baltistan.
In his presidential address, Vice-Chancellor of Jammu University, Prof M K Dhar said that people of J&K were emotionally attached with PoJK as many natives of the region are living in different parts of J&K. He reminded that India’s oldest University, Sharda Peeth is situated in the areas illegally occupied by Pakistan.
Earlier Prof Aroon Sharma, Director DSRS presented a brief profile of the Department and introduced Capt Alok Bansal.
Dr Monir Alam welcomed guests and the audience while as advocate Harswardan Gupta, secretary JKSC present vote of thanks.
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