ISLAMABAD: Like Azad Kashmir, it is the right of the people of Gilgit-Baltistan to have their own separate flag and national anthem.This was stated by Gilgit-Baltistan United Movement Chairman Manzoor Hussain Parwana in a press statement issued here.He said the recent visit by AJK president and prime minister to the Attabad calamity area was a good omen for the future political landscape of the region. He said GB was party to the issue of Kashmir and it should be given the status of a state and like AJK it should have its own president, prime minister besides a national flag and anthem.
Mr Parwana further said people of the region should support the nationalist parties in order to gain all the political rights so far denied to them. He said there should be an independent and powerful assembly chosen by the local which should take part in the consultative meeting on the issue of Kashmir.
He also criticized the government for its failure to support the displaced people of Attabad. He said the federal government had committed criminal negligence in tackling the problem from day one while the local government in GB was now trying to hide its inefficiency in dealing with the crisis. As a result, he added, the people of the area were suffering untold miseries and there was no plan on part of the rulers to tackle the crisis and rehabilitate the people.
