UN asked to take notice of Gilgit Baltistan land occupation

SKARDU: The occupation on the boundary land of Gilgit-Baltistan by the people and government of KPK is an open violation of the international laws.

The taking over of the land belonging to the Gilgit-Baltistan cannot be justified under any law because the whole region is disputed and its status is yet to be determined by the United Nations, said Manzoor Hussain Parwana, the chairman of the Gilgit-Baltistan United Movement in a statement here.

He asked the United Nations to intervene and take notice of the attempts being made by the KP government to occupy the land in the Diamer district of Gilgit-Baltistan. He was of the view that the federal government would deprive the indigenous people of GB of its land by forming a so-called boundary commission, adding that the formation of the commission by Islamabad had no legal ground to decide about the land of the disputed area already on the agenda of the UN. The GBUM chief added that the Diamer dam was being built inside the territorial limits of Gilgit-Baltistan and the Bhasha village was also part of the area which had been included into territorial limits of KPK province under a conspiracy to deprive the people of GB of their right to get the full royalty of the mega dam upon its completion. Now more and more land is being occupied by the KPK government backed by Islamabad to give an impression that the whole Diamer dam was being in the territorial limits of the KPK province.

Mr Parwana  said that if the government of Pakistan was serious in completing the dam, it should name it only Diamer dam and give the royalty only to Gilgit-Baltistan otherwise the people of the area would not allow Islamabad to build the mega dam on its soil. He added that every child of Gilgit-Baltistan was behind the people of Thor-Diamer because it was not a local dispute over a piece of land rather the question of territorial boundary of the whole region.

Gilgit Baltistan :Violence aimed to prolong occupation: GBUM

Violence aimed to prolong occupation: GBUM

SKARDU: The latest waves of violence and killings in the Gilgit city looking like to be related to sectarianism are a conspiracy by the usurpers of the rights of the two million subjugate and enslaved people of Gilgit-Baltistan to divide them so that they can never be able to get united and fight for their freedom.
This was stated by Gilgit-Baltistan United Movement Chairman Manzoor Hussain Parwana said here. He added that he and his party was very shocked and saddened over the killing of innocent people in Gilgit and prayed o God to rest the departed souls in peace. He said that the government was never serious in maintaining durable peace in the Gilgit city because peace was against the interest of the rulers who want to divide the indigenous masses. Parwana of the view that whenever the indigenous people got united on a single point to safeguard their rights, the area saw dead bodies, mayhem and clashes. 
The GBUM chief said that after the failed visit to the region by Prime Misniter Nawaz Sharif and the statements of ANP Senator Zahid Khan and Senator Farhatullah Babar of the PPP that Gilgit-Baltitan cannot be made the fifth province of Pakistan, there was a wave among the people of the region to raise voice for their rights unitedly. Besides, even some members of the assembly in unison with the stance of nationalist parties had stated that the permission to lay the railway track from China to Pakistan though Gilgit-Baltistan should be conditioned with the rights of the indigenous people. But the usurpers of the rights of the people got panicked over the rising trend of unity in Giglit-Baltistan and lost no time to sabotage the unity of the masses by igniting the fire among them and pitching them against each other to achieve their own nefarious designs, he added.
Mr Parwana demanded that the government of Mehdi Shah should be sent packing in order to restore peace in the region. He added that elimination of corruption was also necessary for restoration of peace in the area. On the one hand the chief minister has been backing corruption and on the other talking of maintaining peace in the region, he added. The GBUM chief said that the level of terrorism seen in the tenure of Mehdi Shah was unprecedented.

Gilgit Baltistan : Corruption in Civil Supply sought investigation

Gilgit Baltistan: Leader demands to link India via Skardu-Kargil ancient tarde route

SKARDU: Chairman Gilgit-Baltistan United Movement (GBUM) Engineer Manzoor Hussain Prawana has said that putting restriction on the free movement of the people and closing old trade routes was a rampant violation of the human rights. He said by the virtue of its geographical location, Gilgit-Baltistan can have trade access to five countries via over 15 land routes. However, though a conspiracy, these trade routes have been closed, compelling the indigenous people to remain stranded in their areas and depending only on the Karakarum Highway that too remained closed for most of the year due to terrorits attacks and security concerns.

 Mr Parwana said that this was equal to shutting the door of trade and employment on the two million people of the Addressing a rally held to demand the opening of the trade routes, he said that due to the closure of the Skardu-Kargil route, hundreds of divided families in Baltistan and Ladakh were facing agonies of their lives. He said these divided families had been looking for meeting their near and dear ones on the other side of the border for years but still there was no hope that the border would be opened.

He said besides the human tragedy the road closure had also shut the door of trade opportunities on the people of the region causing a perpetual poverty and economic meltdown among the residents. He asked both the governments of Pakistan and India to immediately open the routes between Skardu and Kargil and Astor and Srinagar.

The GBUM chief was of the view that the people of Punjab and Sindh were freely doing trade and crossing border with India, the people of KPK were free to do business with Afghanistan while the Baloch were also availing of the open border into Afghanistan and Iran. And even the people in AJK were allowed to do business across the border. On the other hand, the people of Gilgit-Baltistan were still not being allowed to cross the border and meet their relatives. Besides, all the old trade routes still remain closed. If doing trade with India is against the interest of Pakistan, it should close the border in Punjab and Sindh too. He said this double standard discrimination against the people of Gilgit-Baltistan was unjustified and would not be tolerated.

Issued

Manzoor Parwana

Chairman

Gilgit Baltistan United Movement

Skardu baltistan : 16/ 12/2013

www.skardu.blogspot.com

Gilgit Baltistan: Protesters block Skardu Gilgit Road for Wheat.

RONDU: A large number of people here blocked the main road for over three hours in protest against black marketing and additional charges on what being supplied to the area on subsidized rate.
Addressing the participants of the protest, Gilgit-Baltistan United Movement (GBUM) Chairman Manzoor Hussain Parwana said that the announcing additional charges on the basic commodity was equal to suicide attack on the poor people of the area. By putting further economic burden on the people, the government has showed its anti-people agenda. He said that the government which never tired of chanting the slogan of roti, kapra and makan had forced the masses on starvation. He was of the view that not supplying wheat flour to the consumers for the last three months to hoard the commodity in the godowns in order to sell it on the new increased rate was highly condemnable. He said after the increase in the price, the wheat bag’s had increased to 1300 rupees while the civil supply department was charging the masses 2050 rupees . Will there be more lawlessness than this, he added. The GBUM chief said that if the sellers did not stop charging the additional amount from the people, the court of law would be approached.  Later, the participants held a rally under the leadership of Manzoor Parwan who later staged a sit-in outside the office of assistant commissioner Rondu. The assistant commissioner on the occasion directed that wheat should be given to the consumers after weighing it from the godowns.  
 

GBUM : Protest rally for rights in Baltistan

Protest rally for rights in Baltistan

Protest Rally in Roundu, Skardu

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Skardu— Thousands of people staged a protest rally in Roundu village of Baltistan, demanding political, economic and constitutional rights. More than that, protesters demanded international road links with Tajikistan and Ladakh. The call for protest was given by GilgitBaltistan United Movement and Open the Frontiers Movement.

“We want an end to Human Rights violations in Gilgit Baltistan. We want freedom of speech, freedom of movement and an opportunity to freely trade with neighboring countries,” GBUM chairman, Manzoor Parvana told to the gathering.

“If Punjabis of Punjab can trade with India through Wahaga, If Balochis of Baluchistan can trade with Iran, If Pashtuns of KPK can trade with Pashtuns of Afghanistan; why Baltis of Skardu cannot trade with Baltis of Ladakh? Why people of Gilgit Baltistan cannot trade with Tajikistan?” Pervana raised questions.

Syed Haider Shah Rizvi, Chief Organizer of Open the Frontiers Movement, demanded the federal government to open Skardu- Kargil road immediately so that the people of Gilgit Baltistan can look for alternative means of subsistence.

“If the federal government does not open the Skardu Kargil road, we will not shy away from marching towards Ladakh [not part of Pakistan],” Rizvi said.

Rizvi also highlighted political and constitutional deprivations that the people of the region face. He warned the government of initiating revolutionary rights moment from Roundu, if the government continues suppressing the rights of the people.

Speakers from MQM, PMLN, PTI and other parties also addressed the gathering. Speakers criticized Nawaz Sharif’s visit to Gilgit Baltistan terming it an unproductive tour with traditional rhetoric of changing the fate of the region.

It is pertinent to note that the people of Gilgit Baltistan have suffered greatly in recent years as terrorists, along Karakoram Highway, have repeatedly targeted travelers. On top of political and constitutional deprivations, the region has been left at the mercy of neighboring KPK province whose No-Objection Certificate (NOC), according to government officials in Gilgit,  is required to open or not to open the KKH for travelers. The Karakoram Highway is the only convenient access to Pakistan for the people of Gilgit Baltistan. 

Mehboob Khan has contributed to this story from Skardu, Baltistan

Gilgit Baltistan United Movement observed HR day for the rights of the people.

Gilgit Baltistan: Thousands of people gathered at Rondu Valley at the occasion of International Human Rights Day 10 Dec 2013 for the Rights of enslaved nation of Gilgit Baltistan. The gathering was called by Gilgit Baltistan United Movement and Open the Frontiers Movement ....

Gilgit Baltistan : GBUM protest for right in Rondu Valley

Gilgit Baltistan: No compromise of Frontiers wth KPK Pakistan

Gilgit Baltistan: Closure of Trade routes is Human Rights violation

GilgitBaltistan: Nationalists protest to open Skardu Kargil Road

Gilgit Baltistan: Allegations against Gilgit Baltistan youth rejected: GBUM

SKARDU: Gilgit-Baltistan United Movement chairman Manzoor Parwana has said condemned allegations that students from Gilgit-Baltistan were involved in the sectarian violence in the Rawalpindi tragedy on the Ashura day.
In a statement issued here, he said that under a conspiracy the people of the disputed territory, who were still deprived of their basic rights, were being trapped in the name of their involvement in the violence and they are being denied their right to free movement by blocking the Karakoram Highway on them.
He said that the government was doing this in order to hide its own criminal negligence in providing security to the people. Parwana said that Pakistan was becoming a no-go area for the people of Gilgit-Baltsitan where they were not safe. The political parties of Pakistan have always used the people of GB for their own vested interests and never worked to ensure their rights. It is a fact that majority of people attending religious and political parties are from Giglit-Baltistan but it is the responsibility of all participants to keep order in the processions. Singling out the people of one particular area is unjustified, he added. Mr Parwana said that the people of Gilgit-Baltistan were educated and peace loving and they have always struggled for their rights in a peaceful and democratic manner without resorting to violence. He added that the Karakoram Highway had been closed for over a week creating lots of hardships for the people of the region who were stranded in different parts of the region.

http://brooshaaltimes.com/allegations-gb-youth-rejected/ 

Gilgit Baltistan : Pakistan has becoming a "No Go Country" for Gbians

Gilgit Baltistan: Ist November re-calls our mind for freedom

Gilgit Baltistan: The Provincial set up is a puppet show

  

SKARDU: Gilgit-Baltistan United Movement (GBUM) chairman Manzoor Hussain Parwana has said the governance system in the region was being run under a presidential order and calling the assembly a legislative assembly is totally misleading and out of context.

Briefing a delegation of the Human Right Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), he said that part from the directions given in the presidential order the assembly can neither legislate on any issue nor can make any law to get an important issue of national importance implemented. Mr Parwana gave a detailed briefing to the delegation about the geo-strategic importance and political situation of the area.
He said Giglit-Baltistan was situated among four nuclear countries but its two million people were still deprived of their basic rights even in the 21st century.
He said the people of the region despite fighting successfully their freedom over six decades back were still enslaved in the hands of outsider powers who decided their fate.
The GBUM chief told the delegation that though the area was under the administrative control of Pakistan, the people of the area were not part of any constitution of any country. Due to the lack of constitutional ambiguity, he added, human rights violations remained unchecked.
He said there was no independent judiciary that can provide justice to the victims of human rights violations. The judges were appointed by Pakistan on the basis of political and other considerations. The latest example of this was the appointment of a sitting minister of the area as the judge of the higher judiciary of the area, he added.
Mr Parwana said that during the last over six decades Islamabad ruled the area but could not make it part of Pakistan and can never merge it into Pakistan as the territory was still disputed under the agenda of the United Nations. He said that under the current circumstances it had become imperative that the region should be given the status of a separate state, so that the indigenous people can manage their affairs on their own and utilize their resources as they wished.

http://brooshaaltimes.com/gbla-legislative-body/

Gilgit Baltistan: HRCP delegation meet GBUM leader in Skardu

Manzoor Parwana Chairman GBUM is briefing HRCP facts and finding mission in Skardu about the human rights violations in the disputed region of Gilgit Baltistan 

C

Gilgit Baltistan: Federal Parties can not brings changed in the region.

Gilgit Baltistan: Mohsin Indutry activities cause trouble in the region

Gilgit Baltistan United Movement : No liberation for Kashmir on ethical bias

SKARDU: Every year by commemorating the day of independent republic of Kashmir, the people of Kashmir draws the attention of the free and civilized world towards the people of a region who have been subjugated and kept deprived of all basic human rights by two democratic countries for the last over half a century.

This was stated by Manzoor Parwana, Chairman Gilgit-Baltistan United Movement (GBUM), on the occasion of the historic day of October 4. On behalf of two million people of Gilgit-Baltistan, he paid tributes to the people of Kashmir and their political leaders for once again drawing the attention towards the moments in history during which we as a free nation had also carved out an independent state for them.
Parwana added that it is a fact that India and Pakistan have never respected the wishes of the people of Kashmir but turned the valley into a garrison area for achieving their own vested interests, where every Kashmiri sees his brother and sister being killed on other side of the bloody border. Apart from the injustices of the governments of both the countries, the so-called political leadership of Kashmir has also taken undue advantages of the situation at the cost of the people of Kashmir.”
“I believe that the day when each Kashmiri realizes that Kashmir is not a property of its Muslim inhabitants alone but all who live here including Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs and Pundits have the right to rule and neither they want to accede to Pakistan on the basis of religion nor they want freedom from India due to anti-Hindu sentiment but want to make their region an independent state without consideration of caste, creed and religion, only then the day of independence will dawn in the region.”

Reference Link: http://brooshaaltimes.com/no-liberation-for-kashmir-on-ethical-bias-gbum/

Gilgit Baltistan: The rulers back corruption in the region.

Gilgit Baltistan: Chinese Presence Causes Concern

The chairman of the Gilgit-Baltistan United Movement (GBUM) has demanded that the Pakistani government clear up certain questions about Chinese presence in the region, and also disclose details about the 1963 border agreement between the two countries.

Below is an article published by One Pakistan:

“Engineer” Manzoor Parwana, the Chairman of the Gilgit-Baltistan United Movement (GBUM), has demanded that the Pakistan Government come clean on Chinese activities in Gilgit Baltistan.

The government, he said, should also disclose details of the Sino-Pak border agreement of 1963 under which Pakistan is said to have handed over 19,360 square kilometers of Gilgit Baltistan to China.

“Pakistan gifted to China large tracks of Aghil, Shimshal, Raskam and Shaksgam valleys of Gilgit-Baltistan,” he claimed.

Addressing media here recently, Parwana said that the hurried visit of Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to China after the massacre of foreign tourists at Nanga Parbat was a reminder of “the great game, which the Chinese ,Pakistanis, Americans and British are playing in the Karakoram and Himalayan mountains to gain global supremacy.”

“It may be true that the strategic location of Gilgit Baltistan is attracting the attention of global powers. However, the interests and rights of natives cannot be sacrificed to accommodate such aspirations,” he said.

“Pakistan and China’s unwarranted activities in Gilgit-Baltistan are causing instability and may as well threaten the wellbeing of natives in the long run. If terrorists attack passenger buses and foreign tourists near KKH, this is a conspiracy against the friendship of China and Pakistan, and will be a constant threat to Gilgit-Baltistan,” Parwana said.

Parwana requested citizens of Gilgit-Baltistan to remain united to achieve liberty. 

REFERENCE  LINK: http://www.unpo.org/article/16406

Empowerment package destroyed Gilgit Baltistan :GBUM

Gilgit Baltistan leader opposed Pakistan’s deal to hand over Gilgit Baltistan to China.

Gilgit Baltistan leader opposed Pakistan’s deal to hand over Gilgit Baltistan to China.

Gilgit: 20th September, 2013

“Engineer Manzoor Parwana Chairman Gilgit-Baltistan United Movement (GBUM) demands that Nawaz regime must instantly unveil information about Chinese activities in Gilgit Baltistan, as well as the details of the projects and bi-lateral agreements which have enabled China to exploit natural resources of the region without the consent of the natives of disputed territory”.

He also demanded from Pakistan to disclose the details of Sino-Pak border agreement of 1963 by which Pakistan hand over 19,360 square kilometers of Gilgit Baltistan to China. He said, “Pakistan gifted to China large tracks of Aghil, Shimshal, Raskam and Shaksgam valleys of Gilgit-Baltistan.

The press conference was called to discuss the visit of the Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to china and signed multiple projects agreement with his counterpart. The Pakistani government did not take Gilgit Baltistan on board to inter in an agreement with China which is caused to create political uncertainty and fear among the natives”. The immediate  and hurried visit of Pakistani Premier to China after the massacre of foreign tourists at Nanaga Parbat  remind us of the great game, which the Chinese ,Pakistanis ,USA and British Empires are playing  in the Karakoram and Himalayan mountains to gain global supremacy. Any new effort by Pakistan to hand over Gilgit Baltistan to China will be dealt with great opposition.”

He said, “It may be true that strategic location of Gilgit Baltistan is attracting attention of global powers, however, the interests and rights of the natives can not be sacrificed to accommodate such aspirations. Pakistan and China’s unwarranted activities in Gilgit-Baltistan are causing instability and may as well threaten the wellbeing of the natives in the long run. If the terrorist’s attacks on passenger’s buses and foreign tourists in the premises of KKH are a conspiracy against the friendship of China and Pakistan then it will be a constant threat to Gilgit Baltistan.”

Parwana requested the citizens of Gilgit-Baltistan to unify to achieve liberty, without becoming a pawn, which serve the interests of neighboring countries. 


Issued by
 Engineer Manzoor Hussain Parwana
Chairman
Gilgit Baltistan United Movement
Skardu Baltistan
www.skardu.blogspot.com

Gilgit-Baltistan: Call For Judicial Commission Against Corruption

Manzoor Parwana has stated that a judicial commission should be formed in Gilgit-Baltistan to proceed against those who violate merit and involve in corruption in government organisations.

Below is an article published by Dawn:

This was demanded by Engineer Manzoor Parwana, chairman of Gilgit-Baltistan United Movement, in a statement here on Wednesday [11 September 2013].

He said that if solid steps were not taken against corruption and violation of merit the government departments in GB would be destroyed. “What a pity that people are forced to give respect and protocol to corrupt persons who are defaming our society,” he said.

He said accountability of corrupt government officials was a must to save government organisations.

Mr Parwana said that it was ironical that those indulged in corruption and bribery were being encouraged.

He said that 3,000 teachers had been appointed on political basis in the region in violation of merit. —Correspondent

http://www.unpo.org/article/16374

Gilgit Baltistan: No dam allowed in the disputed region

SKARDU: The construction of mega dams in the disputed region of Gilgit-Baltistan is not easy and this fact is becoming more and more evident from the fate of the Diamer dam.
This was stated by Manzoor Hussain Parwana, the chairman of the Gilgit-Baltistan United Movement, while talking to the media persons. He said that after international monetary organizations and banks refused to provide funds to Pakistan for the construction of the Diamer dam, there was talk of launching 
the Bunji dam. He said the people of Rondu would not even allow Pakistan to build a small lake in the area let alone a mega dam. He said with the construction of the Bunji dam the historic town of Shingus would be eliminated for ever besides the precious stones of the area would submerge in water. Even the local residents would be deprived of grazing grounds in the area. Besides, there would be other environmental disasters compelling the indigenous people to migrate to other areas.
The GBUM leader said that without allaying the reservations of the people to be affected by the mega dam project, the government of Pakistan should not even think of launching work on the project otherwise strong resistance would be launched to stop the project. He said it was also a ploy to pitch 
the people of the area against each other by launching the controversial dam project. He said his party would continue its efforts to safeguard the interest of the area people and would resist any move to construct the dam in the area without safeguarding the rights of the people


http://brooshaaltimes.com/no-dam-allowed-in-disputed-area/

Gilgit Baltistan: Boji Dam is unacceptable for the people of GB.

The Pakistani Colonial System is root cause of unrest in Gilgit Baltistan

Gilgit Baltistan Nationality............

 Gilgit Baltistan: People want to see action, not words

SKARDU:

Chairman Gilgit-Baltistan United Movement (GBUM) Manzoor Hussain Parwana has said that until the federal government took practical steps to eliminate corruption and bring all the corrupt elements to justice, the PML-N leaders' claims about the issue will remain an eyewash. He said that the visit of the federal minister for Gilgit-Baltistan affairs Birjees Tahir to the region and his claims and promises seemed to the start of a war of power between his party and the PPP government of the region.

Parwana said that the decision of the minister and the chief secretary to launch probes into corruption allegations was a welcome step but the people of the region wanted action not words, he said in a statement. The GBUM leader also said that the PPP government consisted of a group of corrupt people and seemed that the new PML-N government had decided to protect the group, creating further sense of deprivation among the people of the region. Besides, this lacklustre attitude of the rulers is leading to further increase in corruption. He welcomes the decision of the federal government to take action against illegal appointments during the last about four years but said that process should be transparent and across the board.

He said the new chief secretary should start his proceeding from where his predecessor Younus Hotiana had left it. Mr Parwana also demanded that the 3,000 illegal appointments made in the education department should be declared null and void and new hiring should be made in a transparent manner keeping in view merit. He regretted that the region was being made a beggar area due to the incompetency of the rulers.

 He said that the working of the government had come to a complete halt and the government was even not able to pay salaries to the employees and the outstanding bills of the contractors.

http://www.bangesahar.com/popup.php?lang=en&r_date=07-09-2013&story=07-09-2013page-1-4

Gilgit Baltistan:The Saga of Tourists Massacre at Nanga Parbat

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Gilgit Baltistan United Movement :Condemned the terrorist attacked on the foreign tourist in Gilgit Baltistan

Gilgit Baltistan United Movement chairman Manzoor Parwana has strongly condemned the terrorist attacked on the foreign tourist in Gilgit Baltistan and said that Gilgit Baltistan is disputed territory under the control of Pakistan. The administrative regime is totally fail to protect the lives of local people as well as the foreign tourists in the region.... The attack was aimed at giving the message to the world that Gilgit Baltistan was an insecure region.
Manzoor Parwana demands UNO to set a commission to investigate the Barbarossa attack in the Himalayan region over the climber. Manzoor Parwana also tribute the demise souls in URDU. 

GBUM sought international community support for Flood Victims of Gilgit Baltistan

PPP & PML-N have same agenda: Gilgit Baltistan United Movement

 The Gilgit-Baltistan United Movement (GBUM), a political and nationalist party of the region, is preparing to take part in the forthcoming general elections and will be utilizing the services of all political organizations to achieve the political rights of the people of the region.

This was stated by GBUM chairman Manzoor Hussain Parwana, general secretary Ghulam Shehzad Agha, Ismail Zia and Mohammad Hassan. They said that the current system introduced in the region under the so-called autonomy order of 2009 was illegal and the so-called provincial status given to the area fake. By introducing the fake system in the region, Pakistan has tried to hoodwink not only the people of the region but also the international community. This so-called system has given nothing to the people of the region except promoting the menace of corruption, favoritism and terrorism in the area.

The GBUM leaders said that the PML-N was also set to continue the same system of governance in the region and it showed that the agenda of the PML-N and the PPP was the same, adding the corrupt system in the area was an insult with the indigenous people of the region.
The GBUM leaders regretted that political opportunism was being promoted in the region and the so-called political leaders were ever ready to jump the bandwagon whenever there was a change in the government in Islamabad in order to get the post of governor, ministers and advisers etc.
This politics of vested interests continuing in the region has caused irreparable damage to the region for the last over six decades.

Issued By

GBUM

Gilgit Baltistan: No compromise on Nationalism

Gilgit Baltistan : GBUM demand AJK like set up

Gilgit Baltistan: Stay Away the Polling on 11 may 2013

Manzoor Parwana online speech ...... George Washington University...

Democracy and rule of law for Gilgit Baltistan

Speech of Manzoor Parwana delivered ONLINE in a Gilgit Baltistan Conference held in the George University Washington USA organized by “The Central Asia Program of the George Washington University” “ The Foundation for democracy and Rule of Law for regions in conflict” and “The Institute for Gilgit Baltistan Studies” , on 25 April 2013

 Mr. Chairman, Honorable Chief guests and Distinguish participants

 Julay

 I am thankful to the Central Asia Program of the George Washington University the Foundation for democracy and Rule of Law for regions in conflict and the Institute for Gilgit Baltistan Studies for giving me an opportunity to share my views in this historical event on the longstanding issues of Gilgit Baltistan. I have derived my topic “Democracy and rule of law for Gilgit Baltistan” from the name of co-host organization “The Foundation for democracy and Rule of Law for regions in conflict”.

I want to introduce myself to the participants of this workshop before my speech. My name is Manzoor Hussain Parwana. I am the chairman of Gilgit Baltistan United Movement (GBUM). The Gilgit Baltistan United Movement (GBUM) is an indigenous representative party which has been struggling for right of self determination of the disenfranchised people of the Gilgit Baltistan. I was imprisoned, harassed and tortured several times because of my unflinching resolve to work for achievement of the basic rights and freedom for the people of the disputed region.

 Gilgit Baltistan is the Conflict region for six decades between India and Pakistan within the frame of Kashmir dispute. On 1st November 1947, the local population of Gilgit Baltistan overthrew the Dogra regime in Gilgit Baltistan on their own and formed an independent government .This is supposed to be the real local authority of the indigenous people of the region i.e. one out of the three interim governments recognized by the United Nation to be functioning in the disputed former state of Jammu & Kashmir. The other two Governments are at Muzaffarabad and Srinagar.

 Unfortunately, the Govt. of Pakistan has mishandled and misrepresented to the international community and colonized the Gilgit Baltistan portion of disputed. This conflict region Gilgit Baltistan under the de- facto administration of Pakistan has no identity, no constitution, no system, no free expression, no impartial judiciary, no free media, no free movement, no human rights, no rights of vote and no freedom of expression but which is called the last colony of 21stcentury what Baroness Emma Nicholson, MEP in her report to European Union in 2007, has rightly described it at one stage that Gilgit Baltistan is like a “Black Hole” in the world.

 The unnoticed gross violations of human, political and religious rights perpetuated on our people for the last six decades are obscured, unnoticed and unheard. Gilgit Baltistan is not represented in constitution of Pakistan and thus not in its legislative apparatus, but unfortunately, all possible and cruel laws including FCR have been applied on the people of Gilgit Baltistan with full force.

 Gilgit Baltistan was trampled and wide-spread environmental, resulting in deforestation, overgrazing, uncontrolled mining, and extinction of wildlife, soil erosion, landslides and other perils. The government of Pakistan continues to extract various natural resources without any environmental safeguard; as a result, Gilgit Baltistan is facing an environmental crisis, the ramifications of which will be felt far beyond its borders. 

 The construction of the Diamar Bhasha Dam and Bunji Dams should be abandoned immediately where deadly explosive are being used. The construction of huge Dams in the vicinity of glaciers, by China, Pakistan and India should be stopped, particularly Pakistan must restrain from the construction of Basha/Diamar dam, Bonji dam and Katzura dam , so that the eco-system may be saved from the effects of dams.

The Chinese companies and firm has been working on mineral extraction in Gilgit Baltistan. Increased mining activities further reduces vegetation cover and thus increase the chance for severe landslides, massive soil erosion, loss of wildlife habitat and the pollution of streams and rivers. The use of highly flammable explosive is not only destabilizing the high altitude mountains but also diminishing the rare birds and animals from this region. This causes heavy toll to the echo-system of the nature. The environmental issue of Gilgit Baltistan is not an inconsequential regional issue, but has huge global significance to warrant international attention.                                                           The termination of State Subject Rules changed the demography of the conflict region. The main responsibilities of this pathetic state of affairs lie on the government of Pakistan but we can not exempt India from shunning her responsibilities as government of India claims Gilgit-Baltistan as hers but failed to raise befitting voice against human rights violations here.

 The opening of Kargil Skardu road is a longstanding and indigenous demand from both sides of LOC but India and Pakistan is showing reluctance to accept this demand, as both are accommodating the demands from the Kashmir Valley and discriminating against Gilgit Baltistan and Ladakh.

 At this historical event on the behalf of two Million of people of Gilgit Baltistan , I appeal to the United Nation, USA, European Union , Human rights watch, freedom house, Amnesty International and civilized countries of the world to pay attention to the plight of Gilgit Baltistan for their just cause of freedom.

 We urged the international community especially the offices of the United Nations to support the right of self-determination for the oppressed and poverty stricken natives of the disputed region of Gilgit-Baltistan,

We request the international community to offer equal treatment and attention to both Gilgit-Baltistan and Pakistani Kashmir, or the natives of Gilgit-Baltistan will continue to live an impoverished life with complete denial of freedom of expression, press and political activity.

We appeal that since Pakistan has no capacity or the will to solve constitutional and economic problems of Gilgit-Baltistan, therefore, the international community must pay immediate attention to address this impasse.

 We suggested to the US government to initiate programs in Gilgit-Baltistan to help promote human rights, cultural and economic wellbeing, improved communication and transportation links, freedom of speech, press and political activity, and enhanced literacy and women development.

We request the international community to persuade Pakistan to end human rights violations in the disputed territory of Gilgit Baltistan, so that natives could live a free life, a life of their choice, and a life with dignity and basic rights.

I once again thank the organizers and participants for this wonderful evening