Govt has decided to elevate Gilgit-Baltistan's status to province, announces PM

(Karachi) Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that the government has decided to elevate Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) to the status of a full-fledged province with all constitutional rights, including its representation in the Senate and the National Assembly under the United Nation Security Council resolution, ARY News reported on Sunday.

NO NRO for 'mafia'

Addressing the Gilgit-Baltistan's 73rd Independence Day Parade on Sunday, he said that opposition parties are targeting the army chief and ISI for their own gains. He stated, "The criticism on the army chief and ISI head proves that I have appointed right people on the posts," he said.

"I will never give them NRO at any cost," he stated.

The PM maintained, "The opposition leaders are using all tactics to blackmail me but I will never bow down to their pressure." He said they are speaking the language of Narendra Modi.

"Those who looted country's wealth during the last 30 years have gathered together to save themselves." Imran mentioned that the country is safe and secure due to the sacrifices of the armed forces.

He said the "corrupt mafia" has been hatching conspiracies against the government and want to destabilize the country.

India has racist govt in power

He said the Narendra Modi-led government is spreading chaos and anarchy in Pakistan. "Today, there is a government in India who hate Muslims," he remarked. "The most racist and Hindu supremacist government in history is in power in India."

He said that the citizenship and registration laws were enacted to target Muslims in the country. He stated that the BJP government has carried out worst human rights violations in Indian Illegally Occupied Kashmir.

He blamed India for promoting sectarian hate in Pakistan, saying that New Delhi was behind fanning hate between the Shia and Sunni sects in Pakistan. The prime minister felicitated Pakistan's intelligence agencies for rendering ineffective India's conspiracies to spread anarchy in the country.

Gilgit remained neglected

Regarding his visit to G-B, he said that the God has given such beauty to the region which cannot be found anywhere in the world." He added, "I am pleased and happy to visit Gilgit-Baltistan for the second time." He added, "Some 15 years back when I visited the region, the Karakoram Highway was under construction."

PM Imran said that he could not announce or talk about the development packages for Gilgit-Baltistan since it would be a violation of the stated procedures as elections were about to take place in the area.

"However, I will tell you that it is our government's foremost policy to uplift Pakistan's poor that amount to 25 percent of the population and the country's backward areas," he said.

The prime minister said that one of the many reasons Gilgit-Baltistan remained backwards was because it was "cut off" from the rest of Pakistan.

It was on this day (November 1) in 1947, when people of Gilgit-Baltistan led by the Gilgit Scouts stood against the Dogra Governor, Brigadier Ghansara Singh and arrested him. They also announced the liberation of Gilgit-Baltistan from the Dogra rule and hoisted Pakistan's national flag.