People of Gilgit-Baltistan already tasting sour taste of Nov 15 polls: Activist Amjad Ayub Mirza

"As the Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir successfully completed phase five of District Development Council elections that no doubt are a landmark achievement of the BJP government regarding devolution of power in the former state, people of Pakistan-occupied Gilgit Baltistan have begun to see the results of their November 15 elections bearing fruits. However, they taste sour, to say the least," Mirza wrote in his opinion piece published in ANI.

Attacking the PM Imran Khan-led PTI government, he said: "To start with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) cabinet in GB does not have a woman member and is totally a male-dominated 'selected' body."

"On its first day, it gave approval for the sacking of 100 government employees in the name of cutting state expenditure but conveniently ignored the large entourage of the chief minister who travels to the Astore district in a 30-vehicle long convoy, adding unwarranted pressure on the coffers of the GB treasury," he said.

He said: "On the occasion when a totally male-only-cabinet was being sworn in, the rest of the occupied territory was facing the worst ever load shedding which in some cities lasted for more than 20 hours."

Unveiling the real attempt of the Imran Khan-led government, he said: "Smelling the evil intentions of the PTI government, Gilgit Baltistan Awami Action Committee's leader announced that if the new government attempts to introduce new taxes they will have to face the wrath of the population as Awami Action Committee will retaliate with vengeance. The Committee has called for a full board meeting to be held next week."

He praised the Indian government for its move on scrapping Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir in 2019.

"Our brothers and sisters enjoy a better life and as the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir takes big strides towards democracy and development, we who are living under the illegal occupation of Pakistan in PoJK and PoGB continue to suffer as oppression and plunder of our people and resources continues unabated after the November 15 elections or shall I call it 'selections'?" Mirza said.