Human Rights activist calls Pakistan's move to hold elections in Gilgit-Baltistan as 'illegal'
Quetta/IBNS: A political and human right activist from Gilgit-Baltistan and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) has described Pakistan's s move of holding election in the region as 'illegal'.
He also urged people to boycott it.
"Under the present circumstances, there can be no free and fair elections in Pakistani-occupied Gilgit Baltistan. Unless the colonial order Schedule 4 and Anti-Terrorism Act are abolished and our political prisoners are released, the people of Gilgit Baltistan should boycott any such activity that is sponsored by Pakistan," Amjad Ayub Mirza, a rights activist from Mirpur of PoJK and now settled in the UK, told Zee News.
India this month protested Pakistan's efforts to bring material change in Pakistan occupied territories and even asked Islamabad to 'vacate' the regions.
India demarched senior Pakistan diplomat and lodged a strong protest with Pakistan against Supreme Court of Pakistan order on the so-called "Gilgit-Baltistan”, read a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs.
It was clearly conveyed that the entire Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, including the areas of Gilgit and Baltistan, are an integral part of India by virtue of its fully legal and irrevocable accession.
"The Government of Pakistan or its judiciary has no locus standi on territories illegally and forcibly occupied by it. India completely rejects such actions and continued attempts to bring material changes in Pakistan occupied areas of the Indian territory of Jammu & Kashmir. Instead, Pakistan should immediately vacate all areas under its illegal occupation," read the statement.
"It was further conveyed that such actions can neither hide the illegal occupation of parts of Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh by Pakistan nor the grave human rights violations, exploitation and denial of freedom to the people residing in Pakistan occupied territories for the past seven decades," it said.
The Ministry said the Government of India’s position in the matter is reflected in the resolution passed by the Parliament in 1994 by consensus.
The Pakistan Supreme Court recently allowed its government to hold elections in September in Gilgit-Baltistan region and setting up a caretaker government during the interim period.
The order reportedly mentioned that the region came within its domain.
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