SHIGAR (Baltistan): Northern Areas consisting of Gilgit and Baltistan could not be made a Province of Pakistan for the time being because of Kashmir dispute with India, said Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto while addressing a large public meeting at Shigar. … The Prime Minister said that during his current visit to the Northern Areas demands had been made to make Gilgit and Baltistan a Province and give the people of this area representation in the Pakistan Parliament.

He … told those who made these demands that while he will consider everything, a decision … could not be made easily. He pointed out that all sorts of things were involved in this question and Kashmir dispute … and United Nations’ resolutions on this matter had to be taken into consideration. In such a situation how could Gilgit and Baltistan be given Provincial status, he asked. However, the Prime Minister said … he would be prepared to consider any suggestion, not adversely affecting Pakistan’s stand on the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination. The Prime Minister said if Gilgit and Baltistan could not be given representation in the [NA] and the Senate … he would … consider what other form of representation the people … should get.

Published in Dawn, September 28th, 2024