Gilgit, Baltistan JK’s part: Salahuddin

Gilgit, Baltistan JK’s part: Salahuddin
‘Its Altered Status Will Have Negative Impact On Kashmir Cause’

Islamabad, Aug 30: A day after Pakistan government declared self governance for Gilgit, Baltistan, the chairman of United Jehad Council, Syed Salahuddin, on Sunday said that these areas were a part of the disputed territory of Jammu and Kashmir and its altered status would have “negative impact” on Kashmir cause. About the devolution package pertaining to Gilgit Baltistan he said that it is not yet clear as what would be the final shape of the Northern Areas in the perspective of this autonomy package but one thing is clear that any harm to the territorial integrity of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir would have negative impact on the Kashmir issue whose future is yet to be determined. The Pakistan’s federal cabinet on Saturday had approved a devolution package for the Gilgit, Baltistan. The package empowers the Legislative Assembly to elect its chief minister, whereas, president of Pakistan would appoint a governor for the area on prime minister’s advice. However, the Legislative Assembly of Gilgit,Baltistan would have no control over defence and treasury. The elections in the areas would be held in October this year. Out of 36 assembly members, 24 would be elected directly whereas seven seats each would be reserved for the technocrats. Speaking at an Iftaar party hosted for journalists here, Salahuddin blamed the former Pakistan president general Parvez Musharaff for “damaging” the Kashmir cause. “Had he not diluted Pakistan’s stand on Kashmir, the situation would have been different,” he added. Referring to India’s stand on Kashmir, the UJC chief said, “Obstinacy, unrealistic attitude and delay are ploys of India. Holding meaningless talks with India won’t serve any purpose. Kashmiris have to carry forward organized and machinated political movement and armed struggle to achieve their goal.” He said India was “strengthening its grip on Kashmir” by laying railway tracks and building tunnels while at the same time Kashmir’s resources were being exploited and its health resorts were being “occupied.” He accused India of unleashing a cultural aggression to eliminate the Islamic identity of the state. “Kashmiri officers are being deliberately denied top posts in the administration. It is a ploy to change to demography of the state,” he added. He rejected Self-Rule, Autonomy and joint control as the solution of Kashmir issue saying the struggle would continue till Kashmiris were given the right to self determination. Commenting on Pakistan’s Kashmir policy, he said that sawing policies of Pakistani rulers’ particularly the incumbent regime’s undue-silence and the ever-changing stance on the issue has not only damaged the Kashmir cause but it would also have dangerous implications on the territorial integrity of Pakistan. He said that it was astonishing to see that Pakistani rulers were silent despite India’s water aggression against Pakistan and building of dams on rivers flowing down into its territory. Syed Sallah-ud-Din said that right to self-determination being the internationally recognized right of the people of divided state, every Kashmiri reserves the right to carry on the struggle on every front. Terming it as the only viable solution he reiterated that no-autonomy, no joint-control or rendering LOC irrelevant would be acceptable to the people of Jammu and Kashmir as a solution of the longstanding dispute, adding that half a million people have laid their precious lives for the cherished goal of freedom of the erstwhile state of Kashmir comprising 84400 square kilometers. Rejecting the division of state he said that Kashmiris have nothing to do with enhancing intra-Kashmir trade or bifurcation formula they have just sacrificed to achieve the inalienable right, the right to self-determination guaranteed to them by the world community. “Kashmiris are being lured on the basis of so-called uplift and development packages but in fact India was ruining the economy of the state by damaging traditional handlooms, tourism and fruit industry and by plundering valuable timber and mineral-resources from the territory”, he apprehended. He said that India is hugely benefiting from the water-resources of Kashmir and electricity of worth billions of rupees is being supplied to other Indian states while on the other majority of the local population has still been deprived of the electricity being generated in their own homeland. Regarding the world community’s pathetic role he said that the world powers and the United Nation’s double standard, was highly condemnable and owing to the lopsided approach by the highest body the hapless Kashmiris have lost their faith on it. He pointed out that these world powers have given a license to more than seven hundred thousand Indian troops carry out genocide of Kashmiris.

GKNN ADDS FROM SRINAGAR The acting chairman of the Hurriyat Conference (M), Professor Abdul Gani Bhat, said the leaders of the conglomerate would meet on Monday and then react. “We will go through the decision taken by the Pakistan’s federal cabinet and then take a collective decision on it,” Prof Bhat told Greater Kashmir. The spokesman of Hurriyat Conference (G), Ayaz Akbar, refused to comment.

Greater Kashmir