ISLAMABAD, March 06 (NNI): Pronouncement of Gilgit-Baltistan as an autonomous Province of Pakistan is a violation of UN resolutions which is tantamount to usurping the rights of the people.
Addressing a news conference here on Saturday, Shafqat Ali Khan, a resident of Tehsil Panyal, District Ghizar, who is a petitioner challenging the empowerment and self-governance status of Gilgit-Baltistan in the Supreme Court, said that declaration is also against the UNICP resolution which was passed in the United Nations.
Challenging the order, Shafqat Ali Khan, who is also known as known as Shafqat Inquilabi, has urged the apex court to declare the promulgation ultra-vires of the Constitution.
Flanked by KNP leaders Yasin Anjum, Afzaal Suleria Hakeem and Mahfooz Tahir in the press conference, he said that the Order 2009 was in total negation of the rights of citizens belonging to Gilgit and Baltistan and in disregard of the Constitution of Pakistan.
“The order of 2009 gives a formula inconsistent with the Constitution and is liable to be cancelled, declared ultra-vires of the Constitution,” he said.
He said in the light of the resolutions passed on Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan was also declared a disputed territory whose status has yet to be decided by the people of that area through plebiscite.
He said since 70s, successive governments in Pakistan had announced different packages for almost five times which were prepared by the Bureaucracy rather than the local leadership. He said such packages are the insult of the people of Gilgit-Baltistan and blatant violations of UN resolutions.
Mr. Shafqat Ali said that the recent package announced by Zardari regime has not only put the people of Gilgit-Baltistan in dilemma but also exposed its designs on Kashmir issue.
He said Gilgit-Baltistan is a disputed territory like Srinagar and Muzaffarabad and the fate of the area will have to be decided by the people through plebiscite which was guaranteed by the World Body.
He said after the announcement of the package, the local leadership of PPP is trying to appease the people, but it has failed miserably. He said if we accepted the assertion of the political jugulars then why the Gilgit-Baltistan Council was formed for this autonomous province.
He said the Federation of Pakistan contains four provinces till to-date and there is no concept of fifth province. He termed the appointment of a Governor and a Chief Minister without a province a floppiest drama of 21st Century.
Mr. Shafqat Ali said that Pakistan on 28th April 1949 has signed “Karachi Agreement” with the then President of Azad Kashmir Sardar Muhammad Ibrahim Khan and President Muslim Conference Chaudhry Ghulam Abbas.
Under the agreement Gilgit-Baltistan was declared part of Jammu and Kashmir State and given to Pakistan for administrative control till the stability of the state government. He said Pakistan has only administrative control over this area and has no right to decide the future of the people living there.
He said in General Ayub era, during the construction of Karakuram Highway, the Valley of Gojal was handed over to China and an agreement to this effect was signed between Pakistan and China. In the agreement it was clearly mentioned about the disputed status of Gilgit-Baltistan.
“Both Pakistan and India had declared at the United Nations that the people of Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan have the right to decide their future”, he said.
He said the package of 2009 for the people of Gilgit-Baltistan is the violation of UN resolutions. He said Pakistan on the one hand has been demanding for holding of plebiscite but on the other it is negating the promises made with the people through its so-called package.
He said after the passage of report by the European Union, Pakistani ineligible rulers in order to neutralize the pressure of the international community and construction of Diamir-Basha Dam, have hurriedly made the drat through bureaucrats for the people of Gilgit-Baltistan without consulting legal experts.
He said he pleaded in the court that Gilgit-Baltistan should be declared as disputed area like Kashmir till the final decision by the people of that area.
Shafqat also thanked the KNP leaders for their support. NNI
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