Gilgit-Baltistan votes

Gilgit-Baltistan is all set for elections to the Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly today despite objections from home and across the border. Better known in the rest of Pakistan for its scenic beauty and some of the highest mountains in the world, the region is fast becoming integral to both the economic future of Pakistan and, in some ways, the world. Objections against the polls were raised both by India and the All Pakistan Muslim League. India claims that Gilgit-Baltistan is part of Kashmir, which – according to India – is Indian territory. That the claim is nonsensical was made clear by the Pakistan Foreign Office. Kashmir is a disputed region under the United Nations and the semi-autonomous status enjoyed by Gilgit-Baltistan highlights that. However, this does not mean that the people of the region are to be denied the right to elect their own legislature. The APML petition makes a more interesting claim by arguing that the federal government does not have the authority to enact any laws, appoint a chief minister or hold elections in the region. The claim has kicked off a debate on the semi-autonomous status of the region, with the question of it being declared the fifth province of Pakistan being mooted.
The GB Legislative Assembly was created through a presidential order in 2009 after the PPP won the 2008 election. The battle for the legislature is now between the PML-N, the PTI and the PPP. Over 600,000 people are set to vote to elect 24 legislators. The fact that PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif and PTI chief Imran Khan have held rallies in the region shows that this time around control over Gilgit-Baltistan is a high priority, despite its semi-autonomous status. The campaign of leftist leader Baba Jan, given a life sentence for leading protests for the victims of the Attabad Lake disaster, has made it to social media. The popularity of the jailed leader amongst the youth and women of Gilgit also opens up questions over how the federal government has treated the region. While the FCR was abolished in the region in the 1970s, the people of the region remain alienated. With Gilgit-Baltistan critical to a number of major developmental projects, including the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, the Daimer-Bhasha Dam and the Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project, the interest of mainstream political parties in controlling the region is obvious. However, there appears to be no real effort to deal with the deeper social issues in the region, such as growing sectarianism and the presence of Taliban groups, which was highlighted after a number of massacres of Shia passengers in the Chilas area two years ago. Gilgit-Baltistan is ready for change. And it may not be the one mainstream political parties are offering.