Imran Khan grants provisional provincial status to Gilgit-Baltistan amid massive protests

Despite the continued protests in opposition to the Pakistan authorities over its resolution to alter the standing of Gilgit-Baltistan, Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday introduced the granting of provisional-provincial standing to Gilgit-Baltistan, Geo News reported.

“One of the reasons for me coming to Gilgit-Baltistan is to announce that we have decided to grant Gilgit-Baltistan the provisional provincial status,” Khan stated whereas talking throughout his go to to Gilgit-Baltistan. This comes following Saudi Arabia eradicating Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan from Pakistan’s map. Massive protests have been happening in opposition to the Imran Khan-led authorities over the problem of Gilgit Baltistan.

This announcement is prone to spark large outrage as it’s going to have a lot wider implications which can set the tone for exacerbating tensions, that’s already being performed out within the east alongside the Line of Actual Control (LAC) on the India-China border.

On October 8, in Muzaffarabad metropolis of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), a large protest was organised by the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front and Student Liberation Front in opposition to the federal government’s resolution to make Gilgit-Baltistan a province. Political activists stated that they are going to sacrifice themselves however is not going to let Pakistan alter the standing of the area. People from Gilgit-Baltistan, who’ve been residing in different Pakistani cities, have additionally taken to the streets in opposition to Islamabad’s arbitrary resolution.

Gilgit- Baltistan, earlier often called Northern Areas has been ruled by the “Gilgit-Baltistan Empowerment and Self-Governance Order of 2009”, which established an electoral framework. Elections have been held within the area below the Order that gives for under restricted autonomy.

The folks accuse Pakistan of systematically exploiting the area of its assets and sharing no dividends with them. Any resistance they are saying meets brutal authorities reprisal with activists and leaders hounded, arrested and tortured.