PoK former 'PM' condemns Imran Khan govt's plan to merge Gilgit-Baltistan with Pakistan

He said the region is a part of Kashmir and not Pakistan. 

Attique Khan warned that the recent move would compromise Pakistan's stand that the future of the Jammu and Kashmir should be decided by a plebiscite under the UN as agreed by India and Pakistan, reported ANI.

"Gilgit Baltistan is a part of Kashmir. How can you (Pakistan government) touch it? You (Imran Khan) talked about UN resolution on Kashmir during your United Nations speech and then you try to include the region in Pakistan," Attique was quoted as saying by ANI.

Political activist from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK)  Amjad Mirza earlier said Pakistan is forced to make occupied Gilgit-Baltistan region as its fifth province as the multi-billion dollar China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project, which is passing through the area, is in the doldrums.

Speaking in a video, Mirza said: "There is so much pressure from the Pakistani public to counter the Indian support which India is receiving on a global level after the abrogation of the Article 370 and Article 35 A of the Indian Constitution that they have to come up with some kind of gimmick, or some kind of announcements that could satisfy the people of Pakistan."

He said it is not possible for Pakistan to annex Gilgit-Baltistan and make it the fifth province.

"Imran Khan's announcement that they are going to give transitional provincial status to Gilgit-Baltistan is just carrot and stick policy because if they are honest in developing Gilgit Baltistan or if they really want Gilgit Baltistan to integrate into Pakistan, the first thing they should do is to release all the political prisoners," he said.