Pakistan

Gilgit-Baltistan marks freedom from Dogra rule

Chief Minister Mehdi Shah announces annual holiday on November 1 across Gilgit-Baltistan.

Shabbir Mir November 02, 2010

GILGIT: Gilgit-Baltistan marked its 63rd independence day on Monday as caretaker Governor Wazir Baig hoisted the national flag in Chinar Bagh Gilgit.

“Our forefathers led us to independence from Dogra Raj 63 years ago and today we are proud Pakistanis,” said Baig while addressing a ceremony. Chief Minister Mehdi Shah, Force Commander Maj-Gen Ikram Ul Haq, Chief Secretary Saifullah Chattha, DG Scouts Naveedul Hassan Tirmizi and a number of other government officials, citizens and students also participated in the ceremony.

Baig paid tribute to all those who laid down their lives for the cause of liberation and called on the people to respect their sacrifices. He said that Zulfikar Ali Bhutto abrogated the inhuman frontier crimes regulation [FCR] and restored basic human rights in the region, adding that the present government empowered the people after President Zardari extended the self-governance order 2009 last year. “Now it is our responsibility to make the new system of self-governance successful,” he said. “For this purpose we need to be united.”

Chief Minister Mehdi Shah in his speech announced a holiday every year across Gilgit-Baltistan on November 1 to mark it as the independence day. He said that the present regime elevated the status of this region from a district to that of a province and delegated powers to local people. “A worker is a chief minister today,” he said.

Earlier, a polo tournament was held in Gilgit as part of the celebrations. Adviser to the CM on tourism Sadia Zia inaugurated the event. The tournament will last a week in which dozens of local polo teams will participate. Also, a cultural show was organised in the government women’s college.

The PML-N also organised a function in its main office in Gilgit during which regional president of the party Hafizur Rehman and other local party leaders spoke. Nationalist parties also arranged a rally from Danyor to Gilgit, demanding provincial autonomy for the region.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 2^nd, 2010.

COMMENTS (1)

Ali | 14 years ago | Reply Pakistan has a long way to go before the people of Gilgit-Baltistan feel integrated with Pakistan. Vote rigging early this year, poor assistance during floods, influx of immigrants and rise of nationalist Balawaristan parties has contributed to the seperation of GB from mainstream Pakistani society.

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