PRESS RELEASE
The Karachi Agreement was a fraudulent arrangement to hoodwink the UNCIP resolved `local authority` and to justify Pakistan’s illegitimate control on Gilgit Baltistan. None of the parties to the agreement, neither, Chaudhary Ghulam Abbas, nor Sardar Ibrahim Khan nor Mushtaq Goormani were representatives of the people of Gilgit Baltistan. The rally vehemently condemned the current serial killings of innocent civilians in Gilgit and termed them planned attempts to flareup sectarianism and to divide people. The illegitimate control of corrupt Pakistani rulers have failed in protecting lives of the people and has lost every legitimacy to control the area. They demanded of the Pakistani government to withdraw its civil administration and military control form Gilgit Baltistan in the light of her various commitments.
This was stated by speakers in a protest rally arranged by Gilgit Baltistan Democratic Alliance (GBDA) the other day in Gilgit on the anniversary of infamous Karachi Agreement. This agreement was signed on 28 April 1949 between Sardar Ibrahim Khan, President of the so called Azad Kashmir, Chaudhry Ghulam Abbas, Head of Muslim Conference and Mushtaq Goormani, Pakistan’s federal minister where by the administration of Gilgit Baltistan was ‘handed over’ to the government of Pakistan by Azad Kashmir government. Rally was addressed by Engr Amanullah Khan Chairman GBDA, Ehsan Ali Advocate, President Boloristan Labour Party, Sultan Madad Organizer Bolor Forum, Engr Manzoor Parwana, Col. (retd) Nadir Hassan leaders of Gilgit Baltistan United Movement, Muhammad Rafique, Wazir Shafi Advocate, Safdar Ali, Kushleem leaders of Balawaristan National Front, Baba Jan Progressive Youth Front, Anees Sheikh of Gilgit Youth Forum, and other students and youth
leaders. Rally was also addressed telephonically by Abdul Hamid Khan head of BNF from Brussels where he is in exile. GBDA is the united platform of leftwing and nationalist parties and organizations of Gilgit Baltistan fighting for the right of self determination.
The speakers said that Gilgit Baltistan is historically, culturally and politically part of a larger region including Chitral, Indus Kohistan, Ladakh, Kargil and Gurez whose historic identity is Bolor. This region has been hacked into pieces during British and post British colonial rule. Speakers highlighted various legal and constitutional aspects of the dispute with reference to Karachi agreement and termed it defective, illegitimate and unjustified.
The rally expressed concern that the policies of President Zardari and his government are no different from his predecessor civil and military governments of Pakistan vis-à-vis Gilgit Baltistan. The Government of Pakistan should apologize from the people of Gilgit Baltistan for six decades continuous colonial rule and usurpation of fundamental rights. It was further stressed that no administrative package will be accepted by the people of Gilgit Baltistan. The rally demanded of the Pakistani government to withdraw the agreement and hold free and fair elections for an independent constitutional assembly of Gilgit Baltistan which would decide the nature of relationship with Pakistan and Kashmir. It was also demanded to make public Justice Usman Commission of May 1988 carnage and to hold international level commission to enquire subsequent killings in the name of sectarianism and to bring the culprits to justice.
From : Sultan Madad Gilgit
