ISLAMABAD, Sept 3: An alliance of political organisations from Jammu Kashmir and Gilgit-Balitistan has expressed concerns over allotment of land in the Northern Areas to non-local people and companies by the government of Pakistan.

In a statement issued here on Tuesday, the All Parties National Alliance (Apna) described as “violation of the State Subject Rules” the government’s move to allot land in the region to about 2,000 people and companies.

The chairman of Apna, Mohammad Iqbal Advocate, said Gilgit-Baltistan, which the government called Northern Areas, has been kept deprived of all political, economic and constitutional rights for the last over 60 years.

The same has been the case with Azad Kashmir. In the past, he added, these two regions remained under the Dogra rule. Therefore, it is necessary that nationalist and progressive political parties in both the regions should join hands and launch a peaceful struggle for attainment of the rights, he stressed.

He said Apna was formed in the year 2001 with the objective to end militancy and terrorism in the region and launch a peaceful movement to resolve the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the wishes of the people.

He demanded that the government should honour the resolutions of United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan (UNCIP) under which Pakistan could not allot any land to non-local people or companies in Gilgit-Baltistan nor enter into agreements with other countries for any development project against the wishes of the local people.

He said the government had recently signed a number of agreements with China for the extension of rads and trade without taking the local population into confidence.

Mr Iqbal alleged that during the 61 years of independence, the government of Pakistan has constantly kept the people of the N.As under-developed and the area has been turned into a conflict zone due to the simmering tension with India over Kashmir. He said Pakistan was treating the N.As as its colony.— Staff Reproter

Opinion

Editorial

China security ties
Updated 14 Nov, 2024

China security ties

If China's security concerns aren't addressed satisfactorily, it may affect bilateral ties. CT cooperation should be pursued instead of having foreign forces here.
Steep price
14 Nov, 2024

Steep price

THE Hindu Kush-Himalayan region is in big trouble. A new study unveiled at the ongoing COP29 reveals that if high...
A high-cost plan
14 Nov, 2024

A high-cost plan

THE government has approved an expensive plan for FBR in the hope of tackling its deep-seated inefficiencies. The...
United stance
Updated 13 Nov, 2024

United stance

It would've been better if the OIC-Arab League summit had announced practical measures to punish Israel.
Unscheduled visit
13 Nov, 2024

Unscheduled visit

Unusual IMF visit shows the lender will closely watch implementation of programme goals to prevent it from derailing.
Bara’s businesswomen
13 Nov, 2024

Bara’s businesswomen

Bara’s brave women have proven that with the right support, societal barriers can be overcome.