Chief Minister of the region Haji Gulbar Khan while addressing the 77th Independence Day celebrations of Gilgit-Baltitan organized by the headquarter FCNA on 1st November 2024 has said that constitutional rights be conferred to Gilgit-Baltistan, where-as77th independence Day celebration were observed across the region with traditional zeal and enthusiasm. Chief Minister of the region congratulates to the people on the independence day of the region and region’s independency day celebrations were attended by the Commander 10 Crops Lieutenant General ShahidImtiaz and Commander FCNA Major General ImtiazHussainGallani and other high ups. Governor of region Syed Mehdi Shah on the occasion of 77the Independence Day of the region has said that people of Gilgit-Baltistan were more portraits and forefathers of the region had liberated the region from the Dogra Raj and annexed the region with the federation of Pakistan. Chief Minister of the area also said that Gilgit and other area were liberated on 1st November 1947, Baltistan region was liberated on 14thAugust 1948 and Darel and Tangir were become the part of Federation of Pakistan in 1952 and these three areas are being called the Gilgit-Baltistan. Chief Minister of the region said that after the liberation of the area, people of the region had preferred to join the federation of Pakistan instead of establishing their own government and there was constant demand for declaring the region as constitutional part of the federation. National flag was hoisted by the Governor and Chief Minister at historic ChinarBaghGilgit besides laying the wreath at “Yade-gar shuhadah” of the liberation war heroes and pay tribute to them.
Territory of Gilgit-Baltistan was liberated by the people of the region with-out any external assistance or support from the forceful occupation of Dogra Raj on 1st November 1947 and on 16th November 1947, people of Gilgit had joined the federation of Pakistan with their free will and with-out any condition. Where-as Baltistan region was liberated on 14th August 1948 and these areas were under the active administrative control of the federal of Pakistan and being treated as part and parcel of the federation for all intends and purposes since 1947/48. Governance system of the region was being managed and regulated through executive orders issued by the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs from time to time as the region did not fall under the ambit of Constitution of Pakistan. Chief Minister of the region while addressing the 77th Independence Day celebrations of the region on 1st November 2024 has said that the constitutional rights be given to the area as the people were constantly demanding for the conferment of constitutional rights to the people of the area. Where-as Governor of the region Syed Mehdi Shah has said that people of the area were more patriots and forefathers of the region had liberated the region and with-out any condition had joined the federation of Pakistan. It may be imperative to point out here that Assembly of the region had passed several unanimous resolutions for provision of fundamental rights to the people of the area as well as determination of regions legal status under the ambit of Constitution of Pakistan, but the resolutions passed by the Assembly of the area were not yet considered by the concern quarters of the federal government and resultantly people of the area do not have their representation in the parliament and right of appeal before the top constitutional court of the country. Chief Minister of the region has rightly urged for the provision of constitutional rights to the area, which was long-standing demand of the people and this demand was needed to be fulfilled according to aspirations and wishes of the people of Gilgit-Baltistan by declaring the region as constitutional province of the country.We may expect that the concern quarters of the federal government shall consider the genuine demand of the people of Gilgit-Baltistan and the region be declared as constitutional part of the federation of Pakistan in terms of Article-1 of the Constitution of Pakistan, so that people of the region would have equal constitutional rights
