Gilgit Baltistan goes to the first ever polls in its history today starting at 8 in the morning to select a legislative assembly. In this backgrounder I take a look at what makes this Election in Gilgit –Baltistan so interesting!
Introduction
Gilgit – Baltistan was previously known as Northern Areas. Northern Areas were a part of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir, which is that part of the state of Kashmir which is under the administrative control of Pakistan. Gilgit –Baltistan (Northern Areas) are a legal and constitutional part of the State of Kashmir, which itself has been a source of major dispute between Pakistan and India.
Gilgit-Baltistan borders the Wakhan corridor of Afghanistan to the northwest, China's Uygur Autonomous Region of Xinjiang to the northeast, the Indian-controlled state of Jammu and Kashmir to the south and southeast, the Pakistani-controlled state of Azad Jammu and Kashmir to the south, and Pakistan's North-West Frontier Province to the west.
Gilgit-Baltistan is administratively divided into two divisions which, in turn, are divided into seven districts, including the twoBaltistan districts of Skardu and Ghanche and the five Gilgit districts of Gilgit, Ghizer, Diamer, Astore, and Hunza-Nagar. The two main political centres are Gilgit and Skardu.
The High Court of Justice Abdul Majid Malik had declared that the legal and constitutional position of these areas had not changed and they were part of Jammu and Kashmir.
Government Decision
The Prime Minister announced earlier this year that the Northern Areas will have a province like status, will be given full autonomy and will have a Governor and Chief minister.
Federal Information Minister Kamar Zamaan Kaira was later appointed as the Governor of Gilgit Baltistan who after assuming this office, in his first press conference announced that election to the legislative assembly would be held on November 12, 2009.
In September this year, the President signed the Gilgit Baltistan Empowerment and Self Governance Order 2009.
The Government decision invited lots of criticism from Azad Kashmir but appreciation from the PML-N, the opposition party in the National Assembly.
Controversy Surrounding the Decision
This decision of the Government that it claims is in line with the local people’s demands- created quite a controversy in Azad Kashmir. The top brass there maintains that this decision tantamounts to dividing the state of Kashmir ignoring UN Council resolutions. The Kashmiri leaders complained that they should have been taken into confidence.
Their fears on division of Kashmir were further strengthened when India following the foot steps of Pakistan Government, formulated a separate administrative set up for Laddakh on its side of Kashmir.
Some organizations held protests against the Government of Pakistan’s announcements. Others argued that this decision should have been reached after a thorough debate in the Parliament.
There is a strong sentiment that people of Azad Kashmir have a feeling of not only loosing their brothers and sisters but also natural resources as a result of this decision.
The People of Gilgit Baltistan
Majority of the people in Gilgit Baltistan are financially reasonable. This is mainly because of agricultural income and business activity with China. Some are also employed in the public and private sector. However there is no quota reserved for them for jobs but in the education sector, they have reserved seats.
Gulshan Bano, a university graduate living and working in Lahore, who still goes back to Gilgit to meet her family, tells me that tourism in the area is a major contributor towards the incomes of the locals. The area is picturesque. But she tells me that locals do not get many jobs because the literacy rate is low and people from other parts of the country come and get their jobs. There is no local broadcast media. Health care needs attention because for every 6000 people there is just 1 doctor available in the 25 hospitals operating in the area. She feels bad that there is no post graduate facility available in the entire Gilgit Baltistan.
She speaks fondly of Prince Karim Agha Khan’s developmental effort in the area. His foundation tries to serve everyone from top to bottom. He had the roads widened in Musharraf’s area. Also, the quality of work is way above government standards. She feels the Prince would have no objection neither to the entire decision regarding the fate of the area nor the election.
Political Parties and Their Promises
The 99 candidates of ten political parties are taking part in the elections among which 23 belong to PPP, MQM (18), PML-N (15), PML-Q(14), ANP(4), JUI-F (3), Tahreek-e-Insaaf (2), Jamaat-e-Islami (1) and 6 candidates of Gilgit-Baltistan Democratic Alliance. The number of independent candidates is 165. Three women are contesting polls on general seats. Two women belonged to PML-Q whereas one is independent candidate.
PPP has a strong chance because it has a Government in the centre. The Prime Minister himself made many promises such as giving international status to the airport in the area and fixing minimum salary for government employees at 6,500 rupees.
But MQM takes the cake when it comes to making promises. They have promised to give Gilgit Baltistan the status of a province, a promise that all other political parties have shied away from. MQM therefore has a strong chance of causing a major upset.
Marvi Memon of PML-Q, daughter of Nisar Memon and an ardent tourist of the Northern Areas could be a favourite by vurtue of being a woman and succeeding in winning sympathies of the simple people of Gilgit Baltistan.
Learning from the Past
Independent candidates, who indulge in local politics, win the most seats. This was seen in 2004. They then form an alliance with the political party that has a Government in the centre. The same trend is expected to be seen this time around as well.
Election 2009 Statistics
Registered Voters: 717,286
Constituencies: 23
Polling Stations: 1022
Sensitive Stations: 119
Voting time: 8 am-4 pm
Election in one constituency (LA-19 Ghazar) has been postponed because of the death of the candidate. Rangers and Scouts have also been deployed to provide security.
Gilgit – Baltistan was previously known as Northern Areas. Northern Areas were a part of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir, which is that part of the state of Kashmir which is under the administrative control of Pakistan. Gilgit –Baltistan (Northern Areas) are a legal and constitutional part of the State of Kashmir, which itself has been a source of major dispute between Pakistan and India.
Gilgit-Baltistan borders the Wakhan corridor of Afghanistan to the northwest, China's Uygur Autonomous Region of Xinjiang to the northeast, the Indian-controlled state of Jammu and Kashmir to the south and southeast, the Pakistani-controlled state of Azad Jammu and Kashmir to the south, and Pakistan's North-West Frontier Province to the west.
Gilgit-Baltistan is administratively divided into two divisions which, in turn, are divided into seven districts, including the twoBaltistan districts of Skardu and Ghanche and the five Gilgit districts of Gilgit, Ghizer, Diamer, Astore, and Hunza-Nagar. The two main political centres are Gilgit and Skardu.
The High Court of Justice Abdul Majid Malik had declared that the legal and constitutional position of these areas had not changed and they were part of Jammu and Kashmir.
Government Decision
The Prime Minister announced earlier this year that the Northern Areas will have a province like status, will be given full autonomy and will have a Governor and Chief minister.
Federal Information Minister Kamar Zamaan Kaira was later appointed as the Governor of Gilgit Baltistan who after assuming this office, in his first press conference announced that election to the legislative assembly would be held on November 12, 2009.
In September this year, the President signed the Gilgit Baltistan Empowerment and Self Governance Order 2009.
The Government decision invited lots of criticism from Azad Kashmir but appreciation from the PML-N, the opposition party in the National Assembly.
Controversy Surrounding the Decision
This decision of the Government that it claims is in line with the local people’s demands- created quite a controversy in Azad Kashmir. The top brass there maintains that this decision tantamounts to dividing the state of Kashmir ignoring UN Council resolutions. The Kashmiri leaders complained that they should have been taken into confidence.
Their fears on division of Kashmir were further strengthened when India following the foot steps of Pakistan Government, formulated a separate administrative set up for Laddakh on its side of Kashmir.
Some organizations held protests against the Government of Pakistan’s announcements. Others argued that this decision should have been reached after a thorough debate in the Parliament.
There is a strong sentiment that people of Azad Kashmir have a feeling of not only loosing their brothers and sisters but also natural resources as a result of this decision.
The People of Gilgit Baltistan
Majority of the people in Gilgit Baltistan are financially reasonable. This is mainly because of agricultural income and business activity with China. Some are also employed in the public and private sector. However there is no quota reserved for them for jobs but in the education sector, they have reserved seats.
Gulshan Bano, a university graduate living and working in Lahore, who still goes back to Gilgit to meet her family, tells me that tourism in the area is a major contributor towards the incomes of the locals. The area is picturesque. But she tells me that locals do not get many jobs because the literacy rate is low and people from other parts of the country come and get their jobs. There is no local broadcast media. Health care needs attention because for every 6000 people there is just 1 doctor available in the 25 hospitals operating in the area. She feels bad that there is no post graduate facility available in the entire Gilgit Baltistan.
She speaks fondly of Prince Karim Agha Khan’s developmental effort in the area. His foundation tries to serve everyone from top to bottom. He had the roads widened in Musharraf’s area. Also, the quality of work is way above government standards. She feels the Prince would have no objection neither to the entire decision regarding the fate of the area nor the election.
Political Parties and Their Promises
The 99 candidates of ten political parties are taking part in the elections among which 23 belong to PPP, MQM (18), PML-N (15), PML-Q(14), ANP(4), JUI-F (3), Tahreek-e-Insaaf (2), Jamaat-e-Islami (1) and 6 candidates of Gilgit-Baltistan Democratic Alliance. The number of independent candidates is 165. Three women are contesting polls on general seats. Two women belonged to PML-Q whereas one is independent candidate.
PPP has a strong chance because it has a Government in the centre. The Prime Minister himself made many promises such as giving international status to the airport in the area and fixing minimum salary for government employees at 6,500 rupees.
But MQM takes the cake when it comes to making promises. They have promised to give Gilgit Baltistan the status of a province, a promise that all other political parties have shied away from. MQM therefore has a strong chance of causing a major upset.
Marvi Memon of PML-Q, daughter of Nisar Memon and an ardent tourist of the Northern Areas could be a favourite by vurtue of being a woman and succeeding in winning sympathies of the simple people of Gilgit Baltistan.
Learning from the Past
Independent candidates, who indulge in local politics, win the most seats. This was seen in 2004. They then form an alliance with the political party that has a Government in the centre. The same trend is expected to be seen this time around as well.
Election 2009 Statistics
Registered Voters: 717,286
Constituencies: 23
Polling Stations: 1022
Sensitive Stations: 119
Voting time: 8 am-4 pm
Election in one constituency (LA-19 Ghazar) has been postponed because of the death of the candidate. Rangers and Scouts have also been deployed to provide security.
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