Pakistan must withdraw from Gilgit-Baltistan for peace: Nadeem Nusrat

Chairman of South Asia Minorities Alliance Foundation Nadeem Nusrat has fully endorsed the statement of Gilgit-Baltistan human rights activist Senge H. Sering over the imposition of Gligit-Baltistan Order, 2018 in the disputed territory and has asked Pakistan to allow the local population to decide their region's future.

He said Sering, who is also a leading member of South Asia Minorities Alliance Foundation, has drawn world attention to the occupation of Gilgit-Baltistan land and marginalization of the indigenous population and SAMAF fully stands by the people of disputed Gilgit-Baltistan region.

Condemning the Gligit-Baltistan Order 2018, Nusrat said that this latest act of suppression places absolute power in the hands of Pakistani Prime Minister, even though citizens of Gilgit Baltistan have no right to elect or vote for him.

According to him, the indigenous population of the region is calling the order worse than the notorious Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR), as the order grants absolute (yet unconstitutional) power to the Pakistani prime minister over local land and resources and is a potent tool to help change local demography.

The orders have been passed by people who lack legitimacy to govern Gilgit Baltistan. Just like the notorious 2009 governance order, the local representatives did not approve the latest order too, and currently, there is a shutter-down strike in Gilgit-Baltistan against this decision.

There was a curfew-like situation in Gilgit when Pakistani prime minister name arrived at the airport.

Thousands of locals protested on roadsides raising shoes towards the assembly building where Pakistani Prime Minister was addressing the lawmakers.

Further, opposition members of the assembly ripped copies of the order in protest and staged a walkout against the decision. Locals held banners calling Pakistani prime minister a "viceroy" and asked Pakistan to honor the UN resolution on Kashmir and withdraw from the region.

Nusrat said South Asia Minorities Alliance Foundation urged Pakistan to play a positive role to resolve this dispute by withdrawing from these disputed territories and allow natives to have direct conversation and negotiation with the United Nations.

South Asia Minorities Alliance Foundation is a US-based advocacy group raising voice for the rights of ethnic and religious minorities in South Asia region.