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Title The Constitutional Status of Gilgit Baltistan, Factors adn Implications

Author(s) Syeda Batool

Abstract ABSTRACT Constitutional Status of Gilgit Baltistan is not clear and there are many factors that are affecting this status. Politics of this region is complex due to its political history and its cultural diversity. Its basic design is defined by local cultures. Furthermore, this design has been altered and manipulated by several federal governments. Individuals of Gilgit and Baltistan have not been capable to attain legitimate position and rights as a citizen of Pakistan since independence in 1947 that leads dis-satisfaction and sense of political deprivation amongst the people. This paper is an attempt to understand the constitutional status of Gilgit-Baltistan and is try to find out the factors that are affecting the political system of Gigit-Baltistan. The people of Gilgit-Baltistan have close religious, ethnic and linguistic ties with the people of Pakistan. The value of Gilgit Baltistan is important to Pakistan, China, India, and the United States due to its strategic location. CPEC passes through the Karakoram Highway and covers almost 600 kilometers distance in Gilgit-Baltistan. CPEC will bring a lot of changes in Gilgit-Baltistan because of infrastructure development, construction and hydropower stations. Some mega development projects have has already started. The people of Gilgit-Baltistan are concerned that they are getting little from CPEC. The constitutional status needs to be addressed by the government of Pakistan immediately, according to the wishes of the people of Gilgit-Baltistan. In August 2015, Gilgit Baltistan Legislative assembly passed a unanimous resolution which demanded federal government to declare Gilgit Baltistan as a constitutional province of Pakistan. There is a requirement of consultation with all political parties, civil society, lawyers and youth of the area to avoid misunderstandings/confusion on new order. Before giving a final shape to this order, it must be discussed in Gilgit Baltistan Legislative Assembly. This study will help the students of Pakistan studies to understand the issue of legitimate position of Gilgit & Baltistan in its entirety. The paper concluded that each district of Gilgit-Baltistan can be given one seat each in the National Assembly, making it a total ten seats and representations in the Senate as it is in occasion of other provinces. Political process in Gilgit-Baltistan remained a dream up to 1972, till the Agency System was abolished. Today, although there is organizational infrastructure of all the main stream political parties, yet the analysis of past four decades reveals that, the political associations are based on weak bondages. The elections for member ship of Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly are mostly contested on the basis of personal repute, caste and sect, rather than political party affiliations. This is because of the reason, that the individuals of Gilgit and Baltistan have not at all representation in the Domestic Assemblies of Pakistan. Was it so, political parties of Pakistan would take the matter seriously and make earnest efforts to resolve the problems being faced by the people of Gilgit-Baltistan. It is imperative that Gilgit-Baltistan should be integrated in the main political stream of Pakistan. This is essentially important to defeat nationalist tendencies. There is a need to take appropriate measures to shun the notion of sectarianism. The prosperity of Gilgit-Baltistan is associated with better communication links with the main land, Pakistan. For this purpose Karakorum High Way which serves as life line artery, needs to be maintained. The progress can be achieved by Expansion of tourism, investigation of minerals as well as natural resources. Developing the huge possible of generation of hydro power, development plus marketing of small house business for example, fruit protection, juices, refreshments, crafted works. Key words: Gilgit-Baltistan, accession, Gilgit Scouts, Kashmir Issue, Karachi Agreement, political deprivation, United Nations, Maharaja of Kashmir, British imperialism

Type Thesis/Dissertation

Faculty Social Sciences

Department Pakistan Studies

Language English

Publication Date 2019-04-29

Subject Pakistan Studies

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