Author: MK Dhar
Publication: The Pioneer
Date: January 3, 2003
Political observers in Pakistan
stand aghast at the spectacle of General Musharraf unfolding his own version
of democracy, governed by his own constitution and bound by the rules he
himself has laid down. Needless to say, politicians who managed to get
elected to the national assembly during military rule face a very difficult
choice. If they cooperate with the Army and function under an authoritarian
constitution, they risk losing their credibility - otherwise they risk
being sent into oblivion. The future of democracy remains as clouded as
it was six months ago. If the King's party, hastily put together through
defections, is to continue its rule, the future of democracy in Pakistan
is indeed gloomy.
Nonetheless, while General Musharraf
is unfolding his grand design of "democracy under military boots" in Pakistan,
he has denied even this version to the Northern Areas of Jammu & Kashmir
including Gilgit-Baltistan, which are revolting against the continued suppression
of their fundamental, human and democratic rights. Islamabad has been accused
of committing contempt of court by not implementing the judgement of the
Supreme Court directing it to grant all fundamental and legal rights to
the people of Northern Areas, as guaranteed to other citizens under the
1973 constitution, which has been changed beyond recognition by General
Musharraf through presidential decrees.
Gilgit-Baltistan remained a composite
entity for centuries with a single identity until one Colonel Hassan Khan
of the former Maharaja's army revolted at the time of the Pakistani invasion
of J&K in October 1947 and made it possible for Islamabad to take it
over. But, his son Wajahat Hassan Khan, chairman of the Gilgit-Baltistan
Thinkers' Forum alleges that the condition of his people is worse than
it was during Maharaja Hari Singh's reign.
The All Parties National Alliance
(APNA) of over 13 political parties and organisations of POK and Gilgit-Baltistan
has expressed solidarity with the long suffering people in their just struggle
to gain their fundamental rights, and have demanded transfer of full power
to them. It has organised demonstration and protest meetings in places
like Rawalakot, Bagh, Muzaffarabad and Rawalpindi against violence of all
sorts in Kashmir and grant of political, economic and civil rights to the
people of the area. It vehemently opposes Islamabad's authoritarian rule
and condemns the military ruler of Pakistan and his local agents for the
continued suffering of the people.
Adding insult to injury, Pakistan
ceded a section of the Northern Areas to China as part of the boundary
settlement and obviously in exchange of armaments, nuclear materials and
technology it received from Beijing through the decades. Human rights groups,
including in Pakistan, have reported complete lack of civic amenities,
medical and educational facilities and communications in the area which
continues to languish in poverty.
Pakistan's rulers have never trusted
the people of Gilgit-Baltistan to side with them in times of war against
India. They have posted police and other forces from outside to subjugate
the people, who have revolted several times against Islamabad's rule. The
area has been under the exclusive control of the Pakistan bureaucracy.
Many times, the local people have lost their patience with the bureaucrats
and violent political outbursts have taken place in 1971, 1988 and 1997
in which many people got killed in police firings. Historically, to forestall
popular resistance, the administration pitted local people against each
other by exploiting sectarian and ethno-linguistic differences.
As Nawaz Khan Naji, chairman of
the Balawaristan National Front (BNF) points out, through a system of patronage
the clients of the administration are projected as popular leaders, while
the genuine political leadership of the area is crushed. According to Sher
Ali of Jamaat-i-Islami, when a Pakistani bureaucrat approaches retirement,
he is posted as chief secretary in the area to make money.
Stories of corruption and misgovernance
in POK and Gilgit-Baltistan are well known. Former Prime Minister Nawaz
Sharif has revealed that during the Kargil conflict, thousands of soldiers
belonging to the Gilgit Light Infantry got killed.
The bodies of over one hundred Gilgiti
soldiers left on the Indian side were never claimed by Pakistan and were
buried by the Indian Army. Their relatives are crying for justice and compensation,
which has been denied to them.
(NPA)