GILGIT: Lawyer and human rights activist
Asma Jahangir has said the unsettled constitutional status of Gilgit-Baltistan
has pushed the region into an identity crisis.
“The identity crisis has paved way for
despondency among locals, especially the youth,” said Jahangir. She shared
findings of the preliminary report on human rights in G-B at Gilgit Press Club
on Tuesday.
Jahangir, who was on a visit to G-B, said
the government must come up with a solution to settle the chronic issue that
has haunted people over the past seven decades.
“Another thing that I have noted here is
the excessive use of the anti-terrorism act against the people,” she said.
She regretted the fact that the law was
being used against those who were political activists and not terrorists to
silence their dissenting voice. Jahangir met people from different walks of
life, including lawyers, civil society members, political activists and journalists. “I noticed there is a deep sense of
insecurity among the residents [of G-B].”
She flayed the government for
incarcerating Baba Jan and 11 other political activists for raising a voice for
their rights. Jahangir said had she been in the region, she would have taken to
the streets with Baba Jan to fight for those who lost their land.
The human rights activist said the natural
resources of G-B belonged to the people and the government should not frame
policies that deprive them of their wealth. “We also noticed an element of
mistrust between the rulers and the people and it is widening with each passing
day.”
The human rights activist maintained the
government should handle activists through political means and not
intimidation. Jahangir also voiced concern over enforcement of the fourth
schedule in the region. The condition keeps certain suspicious individuals
under the government’s watch.
She added a resolution to the
long-standing issue on the constitutional status of G-B was in the interest of
Pakistan as it would strengthen
the country.