Provisional Provincial Status of Gilgit Baltistan

Gilgit-Baltistan’s relationship with Pakistan has remained mediated by regional geopolitical disputes, particularly on the Kashmir issue. When will the majority of people of Gilgit Baltistan be integrated as full citizens on par with the rest of Pakistan’s citizens? 

As the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly elections are set to take place on 15th November, political campaigning by all major political parties including PML-N, PPP and PTI is in full swing. However, what had added a sense of urgency and revived importance to this election is the Federal Government’s announcement that Gilgit-Baltistan will be made a provincial province of Pakistan. 

Nevertheless, this political frenzy must not obfuscate the struggles of political workers like Awami Workers Party leader Baba Jan who has been in jail since 2011,  imprisoned for raising the demand for compensation of the Attabad lake disaster affectees. In the 2015 GBA elections, he bagged the second highest number of votes while contesting from prison. This year Baba Jan was not even allowed to contest the elections for GBA 6 (Hunza) from prison, his covering candidate Asif Saeed is standing in his place.