Karachi (PR): The National Workers Front Gilgit-Baltistan (NWF-GB) held an All-Parties Conference (APC) in Karachi on Sunday, April 7, 2024, to discuss demographic changes and the settlement of non-locals in Gilgit-Baltistan.
The conference was attended by representatives of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), Gilgit-Baltistan United Movement (GBUM), Balawaristan National Movement (BNF), Balawaristan National Students Organization (BNSO), Karakoram National Movement (KNM), Karakoram Students Organization (KSO), All Baltistan Movement, Nagar Students Federation, and others.
The occasion featured addresses from Shabbir Mayar, Central Organizer of GBUM; Qamar Kazmi, representing Baltistan Students Federation; Basharat Ali, President of BNSO Sindh Zone; Rahat Karim, from KSO; Zahid Ali, President of Nagar Students’ Organization; and KM Abdullah of JKLF.
On this occasion, president NWF GB Sindh Zone, Basharat Ali Mehdavi, presented a resolution demanding the protection of indigenous rights of the people of Gilgit-Baltistan. The resolution was passed unanimously.
The resolution made the following demands:
1. Until the Kashmir dispute is resolved, there should be a new social contract established between the state of Pakistan and the people of Gilgit-Baltistan, based on equal footing. This contract should acknowledge the sovereignty of Gilgit-Baltistan over all internal matters and legislation, except for defence, foreign affairs, and currency.
2. Cease illegal mining, construction activities, land acquisition, and exploitation of local resources under different pretexts.
3. Ensure the protection of indigenous people by halting the facilitation of illegal settlements of non-locals in G-B, and take measures to prevent such settlements, delegating this issue solely to an autonomous legislative assembly of Gilgit-Baltistan.
4. Immediately arrest the perpetrators involved in the abduction of minor Falak Noor and those involved in the cold-blooded murder of 18-year-old Inara.
5. Stop the exploitation of underage girls through proper legislation, by introducing a resolution demanding the declaration of marriage under 18 years illegal. Strict punishment should be enacted for violations of the same law.
6. The only under-construction women’s shelter home should be completed on an emergency basis. Women and children shelter homes should also be established in all districts of Gilgit-Baltistan.
