Gilgit Baltistan United Movement

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GILGIT BALTISTAN UNITED MOVEMENT Skarud Baltistan

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GILGIT BALTISTAN UNITED MOVEMENT Skarud Baltistan The Gilgit-Baltistan United Movement (GBUM) is a political movement, supported by local politicians that demands a fully autonomous state comprising of Gilgit and Baltistan, also known as the Northern Areas. GilgitBaltistan leaders reject Musharraf's empowerment package, ( Asian News International, November 2, 2007. ) Among more practical revendications, the GBUM demands that the GilgitBaltistan regions, officially known as the Northern Areas, should be represented in the Kashmir Council of Azad Kashmir and that the Northern Areas Legislative Council should be given the status of a legislative assembly and given similar rights granted to the existing Azad Kashmir Legislative Assembly. (Gilgit Baltistan United Movement (GBUM) Letter to Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, October 12, 2006. ) According to the GBUM, the region enjoyed a brief period of independence between November 1, 1947, when the suzerainty of the Dogra rulers of the Kashmir princely state ceased to exist, and November 16, 1947, when the Pakistani army occupied the region. ( Sarwar Kashani, Gilgit leaders call official Independence Day a 'joke', IndoAsian News Service (IANS), Wednesday November 21, 2007. ) Leaders The Chairperson is Manzoor Hussain Parwana, the Secretary General is Ghulam Shehzad Agha. The both polotical leadres belong to Baltistan ,Pakistan controled part of Ladakh (J&K)

Reference http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilgit-Baltistan_United_Movement

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HR Day observed as “Black Day” in Gilgit Baltistan The political parties and civil society organizations of Gilgit Baltistan observed the International Human Rights Day as “Black Day” under the auspices of Gilgit Baltistan United Movement at Skardu on December 10,2007. Lawyers, political leaders, human rights activists, students and people from different sections of society participated in the event. They called for ending the more than 60 years long and on going colonial rule of Islamabad from Gilgit Baltistan so called Northern Areas of Pakistan. Addressing to the gathering Manzoor Hussain Parwana, Chairman Gilgit Baltistan United Movement speak out that the natives of Gilgit Baltistan have faced to the worst human rights abuses on the globe for last six decades. We have no state, no citizenship, no economic development, no constitution no human rights no independent media and no free judiciary. We are truly under de facto administration of Pakistan. Parwana vowed to continue struggle for autonomous state of Gilgit Baltistan till the decision of Kashmir dispute. Syed Hyder Shah Rizvi of Balawaristan National Front said that Gilgit Baltistan problem is not only political it is a humanitarian issue. The people of Gilgit Baltistan should focus on the genuine issues of the region instead of demanding for packages and constitutional rights under Pakistani control. Pakistan itself is without constitution then how it will give us constitutional rights.

Issued Manzoor Hussain Parwana Chairman, Gilgit Baltistan United Movement (GBUM) Skardu Baltistan Date : December 10,2007

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Gilgit leaders call official independence day a "Joke" The Northern Areas administration announces to celebrate Independence Day of Gilgit Baltistan on 21st November officially. The military and civil administration has finalized several programmes to celebrate the Independence Day of Gilgit to pay tribute to the martyrs and heroes of 1947 war. the people of Gilgit Baltistan condemned the programme and said that 1st November is their day of Independence from Dugra’s regime, but the government of Pakistan wants to distort the history of Gilgit Baltistan through such comical celebrations. Addressing a press conference in Skardu, Manzoor Hussain Parwana Chairman Gilgit Baltistan United Movement said “ We have been celebrating two independence days for 60 years, firstly on 1st November, which is historically our independence day from Dugras, secondly on 14 August at the occasion of Independence Day of Pakistan officially. Now 21st November will be our 3RD independence day. It is a big joke with our nation. Govt of Pakistan has already seized our Identity, democracy and independence, now it is an attempt to distort our history. “Gilgit Baltistan is entitle as the black hole of the world by European Parliament and known as the colony of 21st Century but we are flabbergasted that “What’s brand of independence is exist in the region for that three independence days are celebrating, while the people are facing wrath of slavery”. He added The background of this official buffoonery is that on 1st November the real day of Independence was observed by Gilgit Baltistan Democratic Alliance a pro-independence nationalists alliance and showed their street power first time in the history of the region. The peoples fully supported the agenda of nationalist organizations that was an intimidation for the Northern Areas administration. At the nationalists rally, the people were found chanting slogans for Independence and they demanded for an Independent State comprising Gilgit and Baltistan.So the Northern Areas administration has decided to celebrate another day of Independence to reduce the pressure over the government. On 21st November, the Northern Areas administration will try to defuse the strength of nationalist with a large gathering of government servants and employees. It is to be noted that public gathering is prohibited due to state of emergency in the country. ‘The emergence of new Independence day 21ST November for Gilgit Baltistan may be included in the package of General Musharraf granted for the region recently”. Issued By Gilgit Baltistan United Movement Dated 20 November 2007

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Gilgit Baltistan leaders reject Musharaf’s empowerment package Leaders of Gilgit-Baltistan United Movement have rejected the empowerment package from President Pervez Musharraf to them. The press conference was called to protest the denial of legal and political rights for the people of Gilgit Baltistan. The politicians, scholars and social workers on the occasion of Independent celebration of the region condemned the blackmailing offers of the Govt, which they said were 'aimed at concealing the political atrocities on the people in the occupied region'. The speakers demanded a 'fully autonomous state comprising Gilgit and Baltistan' until the India-Pakistan row over Jammu and Kashmir was resolved. Musharraf's tactics are meant to buy time and hide violations of human and political rights,' said Manzoor Hussain Parwana, chairman of the Gilgit-Baltistan United Movement who had called the press conference. Under the newly announced package, the existing Northern Areas legislative council will be given the status of an assembly with powers to make its own annual budget and development plan, which earlier wasn't the case. The post of the deputy chief executive, the number two official of the region, has been upgraded to chief executive. The post of chief executive, who is an official appointed by Islamabad and who calls the shots, has been renamed the chairman of the Council. Ghulam Shehzad Agha Secretary General GBUM condemned the construction of Bhasha Dam on river Indus in the region and asked the people not to pay all sort of taxes including electricity bills. The government has steeply hiked electricity tariff as well as direct and indirect taxes, to the disappointment of the region's mostly impoverished people. Shehzad says the scale of neglect of the region is criminal. Even basic facilities such as electricity, drinking water and elementary healthcare did not exist in Gilgit Baltistan. Issued By Gilgit Baltistan United Movement Skardu

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Gilgit Baltistan badly suffered in Musharraf’s regime Gilgit Baltistan leaders congratulated the Pakistani nation on ending the unrest eight years dictatorship of General Musharraf in consequence of un-tired efforts of lawyers, judges, politician, journalists and members of civil society. Addressing a youths gathering Manzoor Hussain Parwana, chairman Gilgit Baltistan United Movement said that the people of Gilgit Baltistan were badly suffered in the military regime of General Musharaf. “The Kargil operation and the issue of Curriculum were the two foremost caused to unrest for the people of Gilgit Baltistan. The Kargil misadventure in 1999, by Musharraf as army chief gave unrecoverable troubles for the people of Gilgit Baltistan. As well as sectarian riots erupted after the blood assassination of Shia leader Syed Ziauddin Rizvi in Gilgit in 2005, on demanding undisputed and unbiased curriculum for all school of thoughts caused to refresh the wounds of 1988 lashkar’s aggression.” Parwana said. “In the colonized history of Gilgit Baltistan the press and media was severely suppressed and the journalists were booked and beaten to force down the voice of people in the regime of Musharraf. A monthly magazine “Kargil International” was banned on demanding to establish a commission to find out the culprits of Kargil conflict and its chief editor indicted in sedition charges. The reporter of Geo TV was badly beaten by an army officer in Skardu.” GBUM leader added. The people of Gilgit Baltistan also demanded to the new COAS of Pakistan, Mr. Ishfaque Kiani to establish a commission to identify the responsible persons who pulled the NLI soldiers into the furnace of Kargil operation in guise of militants and refused to accept their dead bodies. Issued by Gilgit Baltistan United Movement Skardu BaltistanDate 28th November 2007

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Gilgit Baltistan Leaders seeking supports of the Pakistan’s COAS Gilgit Baltistan United Movement Chairman Manzoor Hussain Parwana, seeking support of the Pakistan's COAS and civil society to end the colonial control of Pakistan from Gilgit Baltistan. Addressing party members gathering in Skardu, he asked Chief of Army Staff General Pervaiz Kayani to play active role for the elimination of the agency's role from Gilgit Baltistan and call back the Forces and intelligence agencies to reduce military’s influence from the civilian matter. Mr. Parwana said that Gilgit Baltistan nation is not only denied their basic identity but are also denied the right to vote in elections. Thus they do not have an Assembly or representative/s in the Pakistan Assembly, nor can they vote for any member of the Pakistan Assembly, yet they hold Pakistani national identity card. This confused state of affairs is superadded by absolute authority of controlling all decisions about that land by Pakistan Army personals. The consideration number of people celebrated the winning of PPP and PML (N) in Gilgit Baltistan is a shameful act, it is a dance of slaves over change of master. He criticized The bogus empowerment package of President Musharraf is not only rejected by the people it is also rejected by the international community such as member of European Parliament Emma Nicholson and termed it a cosmetic. "We want a constitution assembly not a colonial-era like Legislative Assembly under the control of Pakistani minister" he said. Mr. Parwana also demanded Mr. Kayani to establish a commission on Kargil Operation 1999 to identify the hidden hands behind the Operation in which a very large number of youth from Gilgit Baltistan were made to die like goats and sheep. Issued by Chairman Gilgit Baltistan United Movement Skardu Baltistan

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Mega Projects accord with China san Gilgit Baltistan ‘s Consent opposed GILGIT: Chairman of the Gilgit-Baltistan United Movement Manzoor Hussin Parwana has said Gilgi-Baltistan is passing through a critical and decisive period and its political independence and identity have become part of the international agenda. Speaking at a press conference here, he said the world’s human rights organizations, the International Crisis Group and European Parliament are now debating and raising finger at political, constitutional and socioeconomic conditions of Gilgit-Baltistan. However, unfortunately, the so-called public representatives of the area are still acting as puppets of the Pakistani government. The 60-year-old colonial system in the region has ruined and paralyzed the indigenous economic, social and cultural life and the obsolete system imposed on the region by the government of Pakistan has completely failed to ensure basic rights of the people. Mr Parwana said Gilgit-Baltistan is not part and parcel of Pakistan but even then Islamabad has been entering into various treaties and contracts with China and was executing various projects in the region including the widening of Karakoram Highway, Diamer-Basha Dam and lying of railway lines over the region. It is very surprising that the people of Gilgit-Baltistan have completely been kept in the dark about the agreements between the two countries. “We may support such projects with our reservations and conditions. “I want to convey the message to China through this press conference that Gilgit-Baltistan does not come under the ambit of the constitution of Pakistan due to its status as a disputed part of the Kashmir problem. Therefore, China should not inter into any agreement with the government of Pakistan without the consent of the people of Gilgit -Baltistan.”

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Gilgit Baltistan leaders condemned Karachi Pact, 28 April 2008 Gilgit Baltistan Democratic Alliance called a general public gathering in Gilgit at Ghari Bagh today to protest against Karachi agreement. The leaders of Balawaristan National Front ,Gilgit Baltistan United Movement ,Karakuram National Movement ,Blore Research Forum and Bloristan Labour party addressed the gathering. Chairman of the Gilgit-Baltistan United Movement Manzoor Hussin Parwana said that Gilgit-Baltistan is not part and parcel of Pakistan but even then Islamabad has been entering into various treaties and contracts with China and was executing various projects in the region including the widening of Karakoram Highway, Diamer-Basha Dam and lying of railway lines over the region. It is very surprising that the people of Gilgit-Baltistan have completely been kept in dark about the agreements between the two countries. “We may support such projects with our reservations. “I want to convey the message to China through this press conference that GilgitBaltistan does not come under the ambit of the constitution of Pakistan due to its status as a disputed part of the Kashmir problem. Therefore, China should not inter into any agreement with the government of Pakistan without the consent of the people of Gilgit -Baltistan. He added. Parwana said that Gilgi-Baltistan is passing through a critical and decisive period and its political independence and identity have become part of the international agenda and the world’s human rights organizations, the International Crisis Group and European Parliament are now debating and raising finger at political, constitutional and socio- economic conditions of Gilgit-Baltistan. However, unfortunately, the so-called public representatives of the area are still acting as puppets of the Pakistani government. The 60-year-old colonial system in the region has ruined and paralyzed the indigenous economic, social and cultural life and the obsolete system imposed on the region by the government of Pakistan has completely failed to ensure basic rights of the people. Parwana opined that the roots of dictatorship is strengthening in Gilgit Baltistan day by day .The army rule is being maintained in the civil departments while the military

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PLEASE PAY ATTENTION – THE WORLD COMMUNITY A pronounced gathering of the significant alliance of nationalist parties of Gilgit Baltistan Democratic Alliance was held on 15th June 2008, in Chowk Yaadgar-e-Shohda, Skardu – Baltistan. This public gathering was organized by the nationalist party i.e. Gilgit Baltistan United Movement. This public congregation unilaterally accepted and presented a combination of resolutions which has been named as “please pay attention – the World community”. The all public representative Gilgit Baltistan Democratic Alliance has appealed to United Nation (UN), European Union (EU), the civilized countries of the world and the whole community in general to focus their attention towards Gilgit Baltistan so as to help them out in achieving their just and basic human rights and political demands. These are:1. An Independent constitutional State assembly be formed for the people of Gilgit Baltistan . 2. Gilgit Baltistan’s real political identity be restored and the fraudulent Northern Areas terminology should be done away with. 3. All the land routes including animal transport and vehicular should be open between Gilgit Baltistan and the adjoining countries especially the historical route between Kargil and Skardu so that the divided families can meet each other.

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4. All those non-local people who have procured lands and permanent residences in Gilgit Baltistan in clear violation of State Subject Rule should be enforced in true letter and spirit. Forces and Pakistani citizens withdrawal, according UNCIP resolution. 5. As per the suggestion of the President of Pakistan General (rtd) Musharraf, India must vacate Kargil and Laddakh and at the same time Pakistan should vacate its forces from Gilgit Baltistan. 6. The Pakistan’s colonial system of rule should end from Gilgit Baltistan and all non-local military and civilian bureaucracy should be send back to Islamabad and it should be replaced with the local people. 7. In Gilgit Baltistan, the official intelligence agencies of the Government of Pakistan should b stopped from interfering in public matters and the respect of Human Rights in these regions be ensured. 8. The special communication Organization (CO) and Frontier Work Organization (FWO) should be changed over with local, civil appropriate institutions and the local youth must get opportunities to their entire livelihood. 9. The false court cases against the nationalist persons of Gilgit Baltistan be finished. The ban on the monthly international magazine be lifted and the freedom of expression and security of journalist be ensured in this vital region. 10. Engineering university in Skardu, medical university in Chilas, IT university in Hunza and a technical university in Gackuch be established. 11. The various proposed big dams i.e. Diamer Basha dam, Bunji dam and Skardu dam be abandoned straightaway. Construction of Dams or any big change is not acceptable, unless the free will of the people is asked by impartial body like UN and all disputed issues are solved according to the will of the people. 12. In the context of the affairs of the private division company working on the Sadpara dam, it is demanded that this company reinstate the terminated local workers, and stop their revengeful attitude towards local labour and all injustices should be stopped. ISSUED BY GLGIT BALTISTAN UNITED MOVEMENT

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Government policies alienation youth of Gilgit Baltistan Chairman of the Gilgit-Baltistan United Movement (GBUM) Manzoor Hussain Parwana has said the arrest of Ghulam Shahzad Agha showed the frustration of the Skardu administration over the popular struggle of nationalist forces in the region. He said the double standard of the local administration was causing a wide gulf between the new generation of Gilgit-Baltistan and the rulers of Pakistan.In a press statement issued here, Mr Parwana said the workers of federalist political parties including the Pakistan People's Party and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) were freely moving in the region with their vehicles hoisted with party flags while the nationalist leaders and activists were rounded up on concocted charges. He pointed out that Gilgit-Baltistan was not part of Pakistan and the free movement and activities of workers and activists of Pakistani political parties in the region was illegal and unconstitutional.He invited all federalist political parties to come forward and launch a joint struggle for achievement of basic rights for the people of the region instead of wasting their energies and resources on unimportant and unachievable objectives. He said due to poor policies on Gilgit-Baltistan, the government of Pakistan was facing troubles at the national and international levels. He said Islamabad was also facing world pressure due to human rights violations in Giolgit-Baltistan.He said that looking at the plundering of resources of the region at the hands of Pkistani rulers it seemed that the rulers had realized the writing on the wall and were trying to put their hands on whatever resources available to them. Otherwise there was no justification for opening the doors of leases for multinational companies by violating national and norms and rules and regulations, he added.He said nationalist forces in the region were getting unprecedented public support. He asked the people to stand up against plundering of their resources and protect them for the coming generations. Mr Parwana further said nationalist forces of the region were getting public support from all parts of the region and people were backing the agenda of GBDA and all nationalist parties have agreed on a one-point agenda of an independent state assembly for Gilgit-Baltistan.

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BSF services for political awakening hailed KARDU: Baltistan Students Federation's services for the subjugated people of the region in attaining their basic rights during the last 23 years have been historic and praiseworthy. BSF has also created political awakening among the people of the region besides providing a platform for the nationalist parties of Gilgit-Baltistan. This was stated by Chairman Gilgit-Baltistan United Movement (GBUM) Manzoor Hussain Parwana while addressing the central convention of BSF here. He said the leadership of BNF, GBDA and GBUM had earlier worked in the platform of the BSF. He said some elements were out to harass the students of Baltistan and keep them away from their efforts to achieve national rights. He advised the students not to give an ear to such elements because remaining slaves does not suit the sons of Ali Sher Achan, adding the day was not far when the youth of the region would be in the forefront of the struggle for independence by following in the footsteps of Ali Sher Achan. Mr Parwana said the BSF was a students' body which did not believe in ethnicity, sectarianism and prejudice. He said those who at the behest of security agencies were trying to push the students towards ethnic and regional prejudices would never succeed in their designs. He expressed the hope that the BSF leadership would foil all such conspiracies through judicious decisions. He said under a conspiracy, the students of the region were being kept away from their culture, language and tradition. In this regard, he added, the politicians and intellectuals of the region were also responsible in one way or the other. He said our politicians have been boasting that they have got the region's succession with Pakistan but they do not tell the masses if the area had ever acceded to Pakistan who was responsible for taking this decision, where and when such an agreement was signed and with whom. If there exists such an agreement then why we have no representation in parliament of Pakistan, why the name of Gilgit-Baltistan is not mentioned in the constitution of Pakistan, why Pakistan considers Gilgit-Baltistan a disputed region and why the Supreme Court of Pakistan considers the area part of Kashmir? He said Northern Areas Legislative Assembly (NALA) was about to bring a resolution calling for accession of the region with Pakistan. If such a resolution is tabled and passed by the house it would be the last knell in the coffin of our slavery,

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Gilgit Baltistan leader demands Musharraf ‘strial for killing SKARDU 20 August 2008: Chairman Gilgit-Baltistan United Movement (GBUM) Manzoor Husain Parwana has demanded that former president Pervez Musharraf should stand trial on the charge of killing innocent people not only in Pakistan but also in GilgitBaltistan. In a statement here, he said Musharraf was responsible for launching the Kargil war in which hundreds of NLI personnel were killed. Not only this, Musharraf was also charged with killing innocent people in Gilgit-Baltistan at the behest of former dictator General Ziaul Haq in the year 1988. He said Musharraf should be tried in the International Court of Justice so that no future dictator can commit such crimes in the country. He said PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif had been demanding commission to probe the Kargil war and make Musharraf accountable for the killing. Now time has come Nawaz Sharif honoured his promises and form a commission to probe the Kargil war and bring the responsible to justice. He stressed the need to form a transparent and independent commission to expose the fact behind the war and make the public know who planned and benefited from the war and who were responsible for the killing of NLI personnel after sending them to the war in civilian dresses disguised as mujahidden. He said Kargil International magazine was banned for criticizing Musharraf. The charge-sheet prepared and published by the magazine against Musharraf has now turned out to be 100 per cent true and the local administration of Gilgit-Baltistan should apologize to the journalists and withdraw all cases against them, he added.

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Pakistan blamed for Gilgit Baltistan's trouble The continuation of the exploitative and colonial policies in Gilgit-Baltistan has increased the sense of frustration and anger among the people of the region. The resolution of the NWFP assembly seeking renaming of Diamer-Basha dam as Basha; the Bhunji dam plan and unchecked looting and plundering of natural resources of the region have smashed the dream of accession of Gilgit-Baltistan with Pakistan. These views were expressed by Chairman Gilgit-Baltistan United Movemnet Manzoor Husain Parwana. Commenting on the recent killing of NLI personnel in tribal areas, he said to eliminate the impression that NLI was the local army of Northern Areas, people from Punjab and NWFP were being inducted in the unit and Balti and Gilgiti youth were dispersed to different units and local NLI personnel were sent to trouble-hit areas of NWFP and Balochistan. This, he added, was like rubbing salt into the Kargil injuries of the people of Gilgit-Baltistan. He said the new government was giving safe exit to those who sent the NLI personnel to Kargil in the disguise of mujahideen and got them killed in a large number. It is disappointing that now bodies of NLI personnel are brought home from the tribal areas, igniting the sentiment of the masses. Parwana said though ‘Washington obedient’ rulers of Islamabad were trying to restore democracy in Pakistan but they never bothered to give basic rights to the 20 million people of Gilgit-Baltistan for the last over 60 years. No tangible steps have been taken to change the socio-economic condition of the area and the local people still remain deprived of all their basic constitutional rights. Even talking about the issues of Gilgit-Baltistan in the National Assembly of Pakistan is prohibited and the matter is termed sensitive. All these show that the people of this region have nothing to do with Pakistan. He said looking at the socio-economic condition of Pakistan, its army’s war on terror with the people in tribal areas, the demand for representation in the National Assembly would be a suicidal decision for the people of Gilgit-Baltistan. He said the people of Gilgit-Baltistan have now abandoned the intention to commit suicide and started struggle for a powerful and independent assembly which was a realistic timely decision.

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CALLED TO RESTORE STATE SUBJECT RULE

SKARDU: Chairman Gilgit-Baltistan United Movemnet (GBUM) Manzoor Husain Parwana has said the local population of the region is faced with insecurity due to the monopoly of the alien bureaucracy. He said if efforts to turn the local population into a minority by settling outsiders in the region were not stopped, the area would see Fata-like situation.He stated this while addressing the workers of the All Parties National Alliance (APNA)'s central working committee here. He said to keep Gilgit-Baltistan clear of terrorists, extremists and anti-social elements, strict implementation of the State Subject Rule had become necessary. He said outsiders making huge properties in the region under the patronage of civil and military bureaucracy were a big challenge for GilgitBaltistan, adding if the trend was not stopped the future of the region would be unsafe.Mr Parwana said the brave people of Yasen-Gandayi had taken a bold step by raising voice against plundering of their resources by a foreign company. He said the people of Gigit-Baltistan should not take side with those who were hell-bent on selling the resources of the region at throwaway prices to outsiders. If we failed to protect our natural resources, our next generation would face starvation, he added.He said if the trend to allot land in GilgitBaltistan and issue leases to outsiders continued the people of the region would be compelled to take take any action to protect their land and resources. He said the consequence of challenging the honour of the local people would be disastrous. Manzoor Hussain Parwana Chairman Gilgit Baltista United Movement Date 5th September 2008

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Kashmir is not a property of its Muslim inhabitants Chairman Gilgit-Baltistan United Movement (GBUM) Manzoor Hussain Parwana has said on the occasion of the historic day of October 4, he on behalf of his party and the two million people of Gilgit-Baltistan pays tributes to the people of Kashmir and their political leaders for once again drawing our attention towards the moments in history during which we as a free nation had also carved out an independent state for ourselves. Every year by commemorating the day as the day of independent republic of Kashmir, the people of Kashmir draws the attention of the free and civilized world towards the people of a region who have been subjugated and kept deprived of all basic human rights by two democratic countries for the last over half a century.It is a fact that India and Pakistan have never respected the wishes of the people of Kashmir but turned the valley into a garrison area for achieving their own vested interests, where every Kashmiri sees his brother and sister being killed on other side of the bloody border.Apart from the injustices of the governments of both the countries, the so-called political leadership of Kashmir has also taken undue advantages of the situation at the cost of the people of Kashmir.The mujahidden, separatists and conferences who claim to get the region liberated by force from India and accede to Pakistan have further compounded the situation. I believe that the day when each Kashmiri realizes that Kashmir is not a property of its Muslim inhabitants alone but all who live here including Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs and Pundits have the right to rule and neither they want to accede to Pakistan on the basis of religion nor they want freedom from India due to anti-Hindu sentiment but want to make their region an independent state without consideration of caste, creed and religion, only then the day of independence will dawn in the region. On the historic day of Kaashmir Democracy Day, I want to call upon the people of Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan to expedite their efforts and struggle for attaining freedom for their region so that peace and prosperity prevailed in the region including South Asia. Issued 4/10/08

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Conspiracy to divide Gilgit Baltistan people wil The conspiracies to divide Gilgit-Baltistan would be foiled and pressure would be mounted on both India and Pakistan to open the Kargil-Ladakh- Gilgit-Baltistan routes.This was stated by GilgitBaltistan United Movement chairman Manzoor Hussain Parwana, general secretary Ghulam Shehzad Agha and joint secretary Ismail Zia while addressing the party workers. Thye said efforts would also be made to compel India and Pakistan to withdraw their forces and other officials from Kargil-Ladakh and Gilgit Baltsitan.We will also give an impetus to the ongoing struggle for attainment of basic rights of the region, they declared.They said the rulers had been trying their level best to divide the people of the region by dividing them on the sectarian basis and perpetuate their rule. They asked the people of the region to rise above petty issues and forge unity in their ranks to foil the designs of the rulers and get their due rights.They said the main objective of their party was to take out the people from strife and make them a united nation and identity. When Pashtoons, Baloch, Sindhis and Punjabis identify themselves on the basis of their nationalities, why not the people of GilgitBaltistan who are a distinct people in all aspect. They said a specific coterie of people were out to divide the people of the region on petty issues, so that they cannot rise to fight for their rights.They asked the local government officials to keep a close vigil on such elements and safeguard the interest of the region

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Pakistan asked to withdraw its civil and military SKARDU Press conference ,16 November 2008 Gilgit Baltistan United Movement has observed 16th November as black day and called a press conference to attention the international community towards a wrath colonization of 61 years under the usurped controlled of Pakistan. Addressing a press conference at Skardu Manzoor Hussain Parwana Chairman Gilgit Baltistan United Movement urged the Government of Pakistan to withdraw its civil and military colonial rulers from Gilgit Baltistan to ensure the restoration of basic human rights of the enslaved people of the unrest region. Civil and military bureaucracy should cease its policy of dividing people by fomenting sectarian and ethic strife. The bureaucracy has inherited this policy from its colonial masters. This is an obnoxious policy of Pakistani rulers to maintain status quo in Gilgit Baltistan. He accused Parwana said that we will reject any package granted by govt of Pakistan because we are a nation and the nation needs independence not package. We are struggling to get rid of colonial forces to establish our own autonomous constitutional assembly by doing so the indigenous people can run the affairs of the independent sate through their elected representatives. The government of Pakistan should end the usurpation of the rivers, mountains and jungles of Gilgit-Baltistan. The right of using local resources should be given to local people, and illegitimate and unconstitutional construction of Skardu and Diamer Dam should be halted”. He added. Parwana demanded to abolish of all kind of taxes charged by the government of Pakistan directly or indirectly from the people of the area because GilgitBaltistan does not have representation in the national assembly and Senate. Gilgit Baltistan United Movement Skardu Baltistan

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