Gilgit (PR): In a statement issued to the media on Saturday, the leaders of Awami Workers Party Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B), Comrade Baba Jan, Ikramullah Baig Jamal, Akhun Bai, Asif Sakhi, Aqeela Bano, Saifullah Baig, and others have rejected the proposed land reforms act by declaring it a conspiracy against G-B.
Awami Workers Party Gilgit-Baltistan (AWP-GB) believes the proposed land reforms act is part of a plan to grab the resources of Gilgit-Baltistan. With the passage of this act, the people will lose their ownership on natural resources of Gilgit-Baltistan i.e. land, pastures, minerals, and tourist attraction sites, said the statement.
According to the statement, the bureaucrats have already devised plans to distribute land among themselves and their masters in all districts in G-B to deprive the local people of their right to representation.
According to AWP-GB leaders, Apart from chief minister G-B, there will be only one member of the G-B assembly in a reportedly seventy-member land reforms committee. The rest include 15 government officials. Similarly, the proposed district boards will consist of members of the G-B assembly and 16 officials (government employees) with the deputy commissioner as the chairman.
Finally, there would be a village verification committee patwaris, nambardaran (village leaders), and 10 other local notables under the chairmanship of the Tehsildar.
According to the statement, the Awami Workers Party believes that an attempt has been made to change the legal status of local people by naming them as rights holders in the act. It is a conspiracy to deprive the locals people of the collective resources of their villages.
According to the statement, the ruling elite of the country, especially the non-native civil bureaucracy, is the biggest threat to the people of Gilgit-Baltistan and their centuries old history. We fear the ruling elite will deprive the indigenous people if their right of ownership over natural resources through this controversial act.
Awami Workers Party Gilgit-Baltistan understands that until the Kashmir dispute is resolved, it condemns and rejects similar colonial decisions, said the statement.
