Awami Action Committee Criticizes Government's Neglect of Gilgit-Baltistan

 

In a recent press briefing, prominent members of the Awami Action Committee voiced their concerns regarding the disputed status of Gilgit-Baltistan. Led by Chairman Fida Hussain, former Chairman Sultan Rais, and Central Leader of Action Committee and Chairman of Awami Workers Party Baba Jan, the committee demanded the immediate return of natural resources currently occupied by various institutions, authorities, and departments.

Highlighting their stance, the committee emphasized that every inch of land in Gilgit-Baltistan does not belong to the Khalsa Sarkar. They called upon all concerned parties to relinquish control over these resources and restore them to the people.

Expressing their disappointment, the committee criticized the Pakistani government for its failure to provide essential facilities to the region's inhabitants. They highlighted the dire situation in Skardu, where residents face up to 30 hours of power outages and an impending water scarcity crisis. Furthermore, the committee expressed concern over the denial of admissions to hundreds of students at Skardu Degree College and Women's Degree College, labeling it as a grave injustice.

In a show of solidarity, the Awami Action Committee of Gilgit-Baltistan pledged its unwavering support for Agha Baqir Al-Hussaini to Shoton Nallah Project Movement.

Addressing the issue of unemployment, the committee demanded the recruitment of jobless youth from the Diamer area. They also urged for swift compensation for individuals affected by the construction of the Diamer Dam.

Another key demand put forth by the committee was the withdrawal of the Frontier Corps (FC) and Rangers from Gilgit-Baltistan, calling for the recruitment of unemployed youth in the police force instead.

Highlighting a prolonged injustice, the committee expressed concern over the absence of local body elections in Gilgit-Baltistan for the past fifteen years. They demanded the immediate conduct of elections and proposed aligning them with those held in Islamabad to prevent any manipulation by the Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan.

The Awami Action Committee of Gilgit-Baltistan seeks to raise awareness about the disputed status of the region and advocates for the return of resources to the people. Their demands focus on addressing pressing issues such as power outages, water scarcity, educational opportunities, unemployment, and fair elections, with the aim of improving the lives of the public and the youth of Gilgit-Baltistan.