Shia leader rejects Pakistan policy on Gilgit-Baltistan in the name of Kashmir

Islami Tehreek Gilgit-Baltistan leader and eminent scholar Shaikh Mirza Ali has lashed out at the federal government of Pakistan saying that the rulers have not granted the full Constitutional status of province to his G-B province that has not been allocated seats in Pakistan’s bicameral Parliament.

“You cannot cheat us anymore in the name of Kashmir issue. India has given special status to occupied Kashmir and allocated them seats in Lok Sabha and Rajiya Sabha but Pakistan government still deny Gilgit-Baltistan those rights being enjoyed by other four provinces,” he said, adding that Indian stance cannot be defeated by weak policy of Pakistan.
He said that new generation is not happy with this step motherly treatment and they demand full rights as citizens of Pakistan but Foreign Ministry has different viewpoint as compared to the ministry of Kashmir Affairs on this issue.
Allama Shaikh Mirza Ali further said that there were two different policies for Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan and affairs of both were being run separately. He said that Jammu and Kashmir Act was enforced in AJK but that Act remained suspended in Gilgit-Baltistan.
He said that if the Pakistani state wants to defeat the plots of enemies of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, it must given Gilgit-Baltistan full Constitutional status with seats in Senate and National Assembly of Pakistan. He asked if it was not an incontrovertible proof of their patriotism that they still support CPEC despite lack of Constitutional status of Gilgit-Baltistan and its people.