Seminar: Speakers demand political rights for G-B

Say people have been denied a voice in parliament.


Our Correspondent February 28, 2012

ISLAMABAD:


Highlighting the geographical and historical importance of Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B), speakers at a seminar on the region’s historical and cultural importance urged the government to give the region representation in the bi-cameral legislature on Monday.


Speaking on the occasion, G-B Finance Minister Muhammad Ali Akhter said the people of GB had themselves fought against Dogra and British regimes and chosen to accede to Pakistan.

Akther said there was no political set-up in G-B till 1973 and that it was PPP’s founding father, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, who had taken the initiative after he came to power.

Former legislative assembly member Fouzia Saleem Abbas said historically G-B has been influenced by the culture of Central Asia. “G-B has immense importance due to its unique geography and natural resources.”

She said it is the government’s duty to protect G-B’s freshwater resources and use them judicially.

Dr Sharif Astori said that the people of G-B always defended Pakistan on its eastern border in every war.  Astori said that the people courageously fought the Dogra and British rulers and evacuated the area from their occupation in 1948.

They defeated imperialistic powers and voluntarily announced their affiliation with Pakistan without any guidance from the Muslim leadership.

Chairman Gilgit-Baltistan National Movement Dr Ghulam Abbas said G-B’s people have been denied their fundamental rights for many years. They must be brought into the political mainstream by giving them representation in the Senate and national assembly.

A large number of historians, politicians, educationists and students attended the seminar.

The event was organised by the Society of History, Islamabad at Post Graduate Model College, H-8.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 28th, 2012. 

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