Gilgit Baltistan United Movement Rejects Interim Province : Manzoor Parwana

The Government 's steps and proposals to make Gilgit Baltistan a “Provisional Province ” and bring constitutional packages for the region are unlawful and hold no ground at all, as the region does not fall under Pakistan's constitution of 1973. This was stated by the Chairman of the Gilgit-Baltistan United Movement (GBUM), Manzoor Parwana, while reacting over the proposal of Islamabad to deal with the affairs of Gilgit-Baltistan as Provisional Province.

He said the “Provisional Constitutional Province” itself is a vague term and it is a joke regarding the denial of the rights of the people of Gilgit Baltistan. Gilgit Baltistan is a disputed territory, that is the reason the region has remained deprived of self-determination for the last 71 years. Pakistan had taken over the administrative control of the region temporarily under the dubious “Karachi Pact 28th April 1949” and was supposed to hand over the local administration of the area to the people’s “Self Autonomy” in accordance with the resolution of the United Nations Commission on India and Pakistan (UNCIP).

The GBUM chief said the assembly of any country formulates laws to make new provinces within the country. However, Gilgit Baltistan is the only area which neither has representation in the National Assembly of Pakistan and the Senate nor has its own assembly to formulate the laws. So the proposed de-facto Provisional Province will be a cause of insecurity and scarcity for the people of Gilgit Baltistan.

Mr. Parwana said the Government of Pakistan should take positive steps to reinstate the “Sovereignty of Gilgit Baltistan” in accordance with the UNCIP resolutions and principles of democracy.