Yadgar e Shohda, Chinar Bagh, Gilgit |
GILGIT: The people of Gilgit-Baltistan celebrated 71st Independence Day, amid hearing a case in highest court regarding long awaited issue of basic rights in line with the principles set by United Nations for the disputed territories of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Independence Day is celebrated on first November to mark successful revolt against the ruler of then princely state of Jammu and Kashmir Mararaja Hari Singh.
The Gilgit Baltistan government had declared official holiday on the occasion, where rallies and functions
highlighting the importance of the day would be organised.
The official function of the day was organized in historic Chinar Bagh in which Governor, chief minister, senior
official and dignitaries participated. Governor and Chief Minister hoisted the national flag, lay floral wreath at the yadgar -e-shahuda and offer Fateha. Another large function was held in Jutial in which Commonder FCNA participated.
Functions were organized in all
district headquarters by the government and different political parties.
Special functions were held in schools and colleges on the occassion.
People of Gilgit Baltistan, residing
in different cities of the country and elsewhere in the world also hold
functions and seminars on the occasion.
Supreme Court’s ruling expected
In the meanwhile, Supreme Court of Pakistan is set to hear case of constitutional and administrative future of the Gilgit-Baltistan region, today (November 1).
The constitutional petition, filed
by Dr Abbas and GB Bar Council seek the Supreme Court’s judgement on the future
of Gilgit Baltistan, based on a 1999 verdict of the apex court which had
directed the then federal government to extend full citizenship rights to
citizens of Gilgit Baltistan.
The seven member bench, headed by Chief
Justice Mian Saqib Nisar had directed the federal government to submit report
of Sartaj Aziz, whose recommendations lead to the current administrative order,
replacing the previous Gilgit Baltistan Order 2009.
A brief history of the independence of Gilgit Baltistan
In 1935 the Gilgit Agency was expanded by the Maharajah Hari Singh leasing the Gilgit Wazarat to the government of India for a period of sixty years and for an amount of Rs 75,000.
On August 1, 1947, the colonial
British India terminated the lease and returned Gilgit to Maharaja of Jammu and
Kashmir. It was then merged with Ladakh and declared as third Northern Areas
Territory Province as mentioned in UNCIP resolution (Gilgit Baltistan and
Ladakh -GBL). Two other provinces were Jammu and Kashmir.
Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir Hari
Singh appointed Brigadier Ghansar Singh as the Governor of Gilgit. He was sent
to Gilgit with two companies of 6th J&K Infantry, one of them commanded by
Capt. Hussain.
The services of two British officers
of the Gilgit Scouts, Major W.A. Brown and Captain A.S. Mathieson, were
retained by the Maharaja after taking over the control.
Gilgit Scouts demanded special pay
and other concessions for serving the state.
On October 22, Pashtun tribes
invaded Kashmir, killed Wazir e Wazarat Doni Chand Mehta and took control of a large
area in current Azad Kashmir. Hundreds of Kashmiris were killed, women raped
and properties and assets looted. Several women preferred jumping into the
river to save their honour. According to a then federal secretary and former diplomat,
the plan was prepared by Liaquat Ali Khan, keeping Quaid e Azam in complete darkness. The pashtun tribes were brain washed to have find heaven on earth in
Kashmir. While they were busy in, whatever they did in Muzaferabad, Murpur,
Bagh and other adjacent areas, the Ruler of Kashmir State signed an Instrument
of Accession with India on October 26, and Indian troops entered Kashmir on
October 27.
On October 31st, Major
W.A. Brown got the Gilgit Scouts to surround the residency and, after a short
gun battle, he imprisoned Governor Ghansar Singh. Brown then informed Peshawar
about the accession of Gilgit to Pakistan.
31st Oct- 1st Nov 1947 (Intervening
night, 2 am) about 100 Gilgit scouts led by Major W A Brown, Lieutenant (later
Col) Ghulam Haider Khan and Sub. Major Babur Khan surrounded Brig Ghansar
Singh’s official bungalow. In the morning Pt Mani Ram, Naib Tehsildar and a
Police Inspector told him that scouts officers had asked him to surrender
within 15 minutes.
Raja Noor Ali Khan and Sukh Dev
Singh also requested Brig Singh to accept the terms and return to Bunji
Battalion Headquarters.
Ist Nov 1947 at 8.45 Brig Singh was
imprisoned by Sub Major Babur Khan of the Scouts and was shifted from his
official bungalow to one of the tiny rooms in Gilgit Scouts lines.
On 3rd November 1947, Flag hoisting
was performed at Gilgit in Scouts line by Major Brown where all civil officers
of the state were called and saluted the Pak flag.
Lt. Col Abdul Majid Khan and Sub
Major Babur Khan put before Major Brown a typed telegram to sign, in which it
was written that charge of Gilgit had been handed over to the Gilgit
Government.
Interim government in Gilgit was
installed under the presidentship of Raja Shah Rias Khan.
Col Mirza Hassan Khan appointed as
head of Revolutionary Council. Lt (later Col) Ghullam Haider, who was quarter
master of Gilgit Scouts, was appointed as commissioner in interim Government.
How the Dispute of Gilgit Baltistan landed in United Nations
All information was quoted here from report of human rights situation in Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan, issued by Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
“An armed conflict involving Indian
and Pakistani forces followed, which India brought to the attention of the
United Nations Security Council on 1 January 1948. Pakistan raised its concerns
on the same matter two weeks later.
On 20 January 1948, the Security
Council established the United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan
(UNCIP).
On 21 April 1948, Security Council
Resolution 47 expanded the mandate of the Commission and mandated it to
facilitate a “free and impartial plebiscite to decide whether the State of
Jammu and Kashmir is to accede to India or Pakistan.”
Resolution 47 recommended that the
Government of Pakistan should secure the withdrawal of tribesmen and Pakistani
fighters from the state of Jammu and Kashmir and prevent any intrusions into
the state or aid to those fighting. The plebiscite was to take place after the
implementation of various measures foreseen in Resolution 47.
Ceasefire line was established in
July 1949, and military observers were appointed by the Security Council to
monitor it.
In 1951, UNCIP was terminated, and
the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) was
established. It continued the work of military observers by Security Council
Resolution 91.
Although the “India-Pakistan
Question” remained on the agenda of the Security Council until 1957, leading to
several resolutions, the plebiscite never took place as the requisite
conditions of withdrawal of forces was not fulfilled.
In 1957, Security Council Resolution
122 noted about the convening of a constituent assembly, as recommended by the
General Council of the All Jammu and Kashmir National Conference, “any action
that assembly may have taken or might attempt to take to determine the future
shape and affiliation of the entire state or any part thereof, or action by the
parties concerned in support of any such action by the assembly, would not
constitute a disposition of the state in accordance with the principles” established
by previous resolutions of the Security Council and UNCIP.
Following another war in December
1971, the cease fire line was eventually converted into the Line of Control,
based on the December 1971 ceasefire positions, through the 1972 Simla
Agreement signed between the Governments of India and Pakistan.
The Simla Agreement calls for settling
their differences by peaceful means through bilateral negotiations or by any
other peaceful means mutually agreed upon between them.
The United Nations
SecretaryGeneral’s position has been that UNMOGIP can only be terminated by a
decision of the Security Council; as such a decision has not been taken,
UNMOGIP has continued to operate.
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