nside Pakistan

For a short period after joining Pakistan, Gilgit-Baltistan was governed by Azad Kashmir if only
"theoretically, but not practically" through its claim of being an alternative government for Jammu and
Kashmir.[49] However, on 29 April 1949, Azad Kashmir was made to sign the Karachi Agreement,
through which it ceded all control over Gilgit-Baltistan (then called "Northern Areas") to
Pakistan's Ministry of Kashmir Affairs. This is seen as an effort by Pakistan to legitimize its rule over
Gilgit-Baltistan.[50] The Karachi Agreement is highly unpopular in Gilgit-Baltistan because GilgitBaltistan was not a party to it even while its fate was being decided upon. [51]
From then until 1990s, Gilgit-Baltistan was governed through the colonial-era Frontier Crimes
Regulations, which treated tribal people as "barbaric and uncivilised," levying collective fines and
punishments.[52][53] People had no right to legal representation or a right to appeal. [54][53] Members of
tribes had to obtain prior permission from the police to travel to any location and had to keep the
police informed about their movements.[55][56]
There was no democratic set-up for Gilgit-Baltistan during this period. All political and judicial powers
remained in the hands of the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Northern Areas (KANA). The people of
Gilgit-Baltistan had no rights and privileges as citizens of either Pakistan or Azad Kashmir.[57]
In 1970 the two parts of the territory, viz., the Gilgit Agency and Baltistan, were merged into a single
administrative unit, and given the name "Northern Areas".[9] The Shaksgam tract was ceded by
Pakistan to China following the signing of the Sino-Pakistani Frontier Agreement in 1963.[58][59]
In 1969, a Northern Areas Advisory Council (NAAC) was created, later renamed to Northern Areas
Council (NAC) in 1974 and Northern Areas Legislative Council (NALC) in 1994. But it was devoid of
legislative powers. All law-making was concentrated in the KANA Ministry of Pakistan. In 1994, a
Legal Framwork Order (LFO) was created by the KANA Ministry to serve as the de facto constitution
for the region.[60][61]