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Self Rule for Gilgit BaltistanBy Zafar Iqbal
The people of Pakistan controlled Giglit Baltistan are going to exercise their right of voteto elect 24 members of Legislative Assembly on November 12, This significant move iscomponent of a contested Constitutional package-“ Gilgit- Baltistan Empowerment andSelf governance Order-2009 ” enforced by Government of Pakistan, which, amid strongcriticism and resentment of Kashmiri political parties, received largely cheerful rejoinder from the people of Gilgit Baltistan who were struggling for their constitutional rightssince their inclusion in Pakistan.Historically, the Northern areas have been part of former State of Jammu and Kashmir.Pakistan assumed the administrative control of the region on 28 April, 1949 when first president of AJ&K Sardar Ibrahim, Ghulam Abbas, President All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference and M Ali Gurmani, Minister without portfolio Government of Pakistan signed an agreement in Karachi. This agreement was not participated andendorsed by the people and leadership of the region which future was decided in it. Atthat time Government of AJ&K had no representation from Gilgit and Baltistan and thenruling party - Muslim Conference had no presence in Gilgit and Baltistan like now.Plainly, the decision was made without the consultation or involvement of localleadership and people who liberated their homeland from Dogra regime by an armedrevolt.The region practically remained invisible in the mainstream political and constitutionalstructure of the country for almost half century. No considerable move was made toempower the local population who stayed on the mercy of Islamabad controlled localadministration. During this period the only noticeable step was Northern Areas CouncilLegal Framework Order 1974-75 which abolished feudal system and Frontier CrimesRegulations (
 FCR
) from the region. On November 3, 1999, Northern Areas Council wasestablished through the election; however, it is a common perception among thenationalist circles that that Islamabad continued to alienate local people through Ministryof Kashmir Affairs and Northern Areas.Throughout the history, the focal point of the Pakistani establishment and pro- PakistanKashmiri leadership confined to highlight the human rights situation in Indian Kashmir and advocating the “doctrine of right of self determination”, conversely, the people of Gilgit Baltistan were ignored both by Pakistan and majority of Kashmiri leadership. Inrecent years the plight of the people of Gilgi Baltistan was echoed on international foralike European Union and Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO)where Pakistan was denounced for its deliberate failure Vis -a -Vis political rightsscenario of Gilgit Baltistan. 
 
Under new economic and strategic processes in South Asia, the region of Gilgit Baltistan becomes vital for the survival of Pakistan. The Kara Korarm Highway (KKH), abundanceof water recourses and prospective participation of China in Iran Pakistan gas pipeline project- are few critical factors which connote the significance of the region for Pakistanand its neighbors. In this milieu, Pakistan can not afford the aggravation of local population in northern Areas where some nationalist groups already demand for anindependence state at a time when separatist struggle in Balochistan and Talibanmovement in NWFP region have raised the questions for the survival of the country.In this scenario, Islamabad considered indispensable to design some measures tocounteract this stern international criticism on Northern Areas issue, thus, recent ‘Self rule Ordinance’ could be viewed as an artifact of that international and domestic needs of Pakistan, however, the development has attracted by and large amalgamated resentmentand resistance from major Kashmiri political voices. All Parties Hurriyet Conference(APHC-M) which claims to be representative of all Kashmiris even without anyrepresentation from Pakistani controlled AJK and Gilgit Baltistan, hailed the self rule for northern areas. However, all fractions of JKLF and other nationalist parties and allianceslike APNA and United Jihad Council have categorically opposed Pakistan’s move. Theysay that Northern Areas are part of Kashmir; therefore, Pakistan can not initiate anymechanism in the region till the resolution of Kashmir dispute.On the other hand, the cheerful supporters from Gilgit Baltistan argue that if AzadJammu & Kashmir can operate under an interim constitution enacted by the AJK Legislative Assembly in 1974, without damaging the official stance of government of Pakistan over Kashmir, why the people of Gilgit Baltisant can not enjoy the similar  political, constitutional and administrative rights?. Additionally, they allege that the people of Gilgit Baltistan were ‘sold’ to Pakistan through reprehensible ‘KarachiAgreement’ participated by some Kashmiri leaders. Subsequently, they insist thatinhabitants of Northern Areas should not be sacrificed for the sake of ‘Kashmir case’ andterm the package as a stride towards further political, constitutional and democraticreliance and economic development of the region.The truth is that the majority of Kashmiri leaders who strongly oppose the package havenever felt the sufferings of people of Gilgit Baltistan. Few from these champions of reunification of Kashmir have been enjoying the luxurious gains of clout structures whonever consider establishing any physical, constitutional or symbolic arrangements between AJK and Northern Areas to restore the reunification of the divided State. Few of them frequently enjoy visits of foreign countries ‘to highlight the Kashmir issue’ oninternational level’ on expense of nation’ exchequer. Ironically, the expertise of themajority of these leaders could be judged from their pathetic knowledge of contemporaryintertioanal affairs, regional geo-political developments and poor competency in Englishlanguage. Others who had opportunities to grab parliamentary representation throughAJK Legislative Assembly, confined to pass resolutions denouncing human rightsviolations in Indian part of Kashmir, disregarding that the Gilgit Baltistan being anessential component of state of Jammu and Kashmir, also needs their moral and humansupport to grant the citizens their basic rights.
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