In search of a ‘viceroy’

Soon after the death of Gilgit-Baltistan Governor Dr Shama Khalid, efforts have been launched by the vested interests to pick a person for the post who can loyally work to protect and promote the interests of Islamabad. Opportunists have also started trying to jump the bandwagon and using their connections to have some favor in getting their own choice on the seat. Every group is trying hard to take advantage of the situation and one of them has even come to the fore to heat up its claim that they had filed the name of their candidate with the prime minister secretariat in Islamabad. Among those very active in the race is the acting governor and speaker of Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly Wazir Baig who along with his deputy Jamil Ahmad is said to have approached the Speaker of Pakistan's National Assembly to get himself confirmed on the post. There is another group of opportunists claiming to be the champion of women rights who are trying to get Dr Parveen appointed as the governor of Gilgit-Baltistan. Those having close eyes and ears on the situation in the region, however, claim that forces working covertly and overtly in the region have agreed on the name of Brig (retired) Saleem, who is said to be the brainchild of the Kargil war of 1999. Brig Saleem is the son-in-law of Gilgit-Baltistan's freedom hero Col (retired) Hassan Khan. He has worked in key posts in the Pakistan army including commanding the army in Gilgit-Baltistan. Besides, he also worked as commander of the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) in Balochistan. He has also vast experience in disaster management and worked in key posts in Azad Kashmir during the 2005 earthquake. It is also said that Brig Saleem is the true son of the soil and would be acceptable to people belonging to all schools of thought in Gilgit-Baltistan.Gilgit-Baltistan is the only unfortunate piece of land in the world today which remains deprived of all basic rights in the 21st century. It is the only colony of the world where people have been denied their rights for the last so many decades. The issue of Gilgit-Baltistan is still unresolved and there are United Nations resolutions under which the people of the region have to be given a chance to decide about their destiny. However, this opportunity has not been given to the people so far and until that time the masses of the area would remain deprived of their right to live as a free nation. As it still remains a colony, its destiny is decided by rulers of Pakistan in Islamabad. Through another package the PPP-led government last year staged another drama claiming that the people of the region had now get what they aspired for years. The duplicity of the package was exposed even before it was announced by the prime minister of Pakistan as people from all walks of life in GB rejected it because it had been drafted without taking them into confidence. It was also clear that despite knowing the fact that Dr Shama Khalid was suffering from a deadly disease, she was appointed the first Governor of the region because the rulers were sure that she would never work against their interest. Even now everybody knows that the next governor of the region would also be such a person who would be working for the interest of the rulers in Islamabad, not the masses of Gilgit-Baltistan. Our stance on the issue has always been very clear. Gilgit-Baltistan does not need a package or governor rather it needs a system that guaranteed freedom for its people and the post of the governor is a stumbling block on way to achieve the goal of the people of the region. The masses of Gilgit-Baltistan want that Pakistan should facilitate in ensuring all basic rights for the people of GB. It is a fact Pakistan should know that no nation can be kept in subjugation against its will in the 21st century anymore. The people of Gilgit-Baltistan should be given their due rights which they have been denied for the last over six decades.

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The current tug of war between the federal government and the Higher Education Commission over funding issue has also badly affected academic activities at the only seat of higher learning in Gilgit-Baltistan - Karakoram International University.Till very recently, the poor students of Gilgit-Baltistan used to move to cities of Pakistan in search of higher education. Former President Pervez Musharraf established the KIU giving a chance to the local students to acquire higher education at their doorsteps. Within a short period of time, the university has achieved world class recognition and a number of departments have started carrying out research work in various fields. The credit of all this goes to the Vice Chancellor Dr Najma Najam who has been working hard to turn the institution into a true seat of learning and research in this backward region.According to Dr Najma, the university on average is spending a sum of Rs0.6 million on each student every year. If the government stops funding to the university and asks the institution to raise fees for generation of income, the poor students of Gilgit-Baltistan cannot afford to pay the exorbitant fees and a s a result the door of higher education will be closed on them. This is the reason the teachers in the region have been protesting federal government's stubbornness in releasing funds to the universities.The federal government should realize the fact that it takes away billions of rupees under various heads every year from Gilgit-Baltistan but has always failed to provide even basic necessities of life to the two million people of the region. It is incumbent upon the rulers in Islamabad to give priority to promotion social sector in the region and for that promotion of education must be the priority number one of the policy makers. If the KIU is not provided sufficient funds, it will put very negative effect on the development of the region besides creating further sense of deprivation among the local people.

(www.bangesahar.com)