A new book on Gilgit-Baltistan that studies the impact of the Empowerment and Self-Governance Order 2009 argues that the new law which has presumably changed the status of this strategic mountain region from a self-governing area to a ‘province-like’ unit of the Federation has added to the confusion in the minds of the populace which has been yearning in the quest for a definite identity since it declared its accession to Pakistan in 1947.
Having their own governor and an elected chief minister prompts the people to believe they live in a province of Pakistan but the fact they have no representation in the country’s Parliament (National Assembly and Senate) disabuses them of this impression.
The authors, Dr Syed Ahmaduddin Hussain and Syed Abrar Hussain Shah, have collected useful historical material on how the status issue of the area, formerly known as the Northern Areas, was dealt with by various governments of Pakistan in response to the struggle of the mountain people for their rightful place in the Pakistani polity.
Starting with the changes towards autonomy brought about by the first People’s Party government of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto which installed an elected council abolishing the princely states, removing the Rajas and Mirs dynastic rules the process of empowerment has culminated in the creation of Gilgit-Baltistan through the 2009 order.
Apart from the fact that the area that was once a part of the British-cum-Dogra ruled state of Kashmir has now a freely elected government headed by a governor and chief minister, the fact of its remaining the part of a disputed territory is very unsettling for the people. The authors discuss the positive and negative aspects of the 2009 order and mention the activities of certain nationalist groups such as the Balawaristan National Front which are agitating against it.
Entitled “Autonomous Issues in Pakistan: A case study of Gilgit-Baltistan” the 270-page book has been published by the Knowledge Home, Urdu Bazaar, Lahore, and costs Rs600 per copy.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 8th, 2014.
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It is wonderful initiative by Dr. Syed Ahmadudin Husain and Mr. Syed Abrar Hussain Shah! It is the time to educate the local people (GB) about their political autonomous rights. Although I did not read this case study but I assume from the title of the case study; it may raise-out those issues and constraints to getting GB political autonomous!