People demonstrate as Islamabad postpones elections in Gilgit Baltistan
Jul 28, 2020
Gilgit (Gilgit Baltistan), July 27: Political parties and commoners in the illegally occupied Gilgit Baltistan took to streets of Gilgit against the government’s decision of deferring scheduled elections at the pretext of Coronavirus. They also protested against the cut down in the subsidy of wheat by the caretaker government. These people say that the ruling dispensation in Islamabad is fearful of losing elections in the region as they have misgoverned and the people are against them. 33 member-GB Assembly was dissolved on completion of its term on 23rd June and a caretaker government took charge of the affairs of the region. The next elections were scheduled to take place in mid-August. However, the federal government of Pakistan, which in real sense has all executive powers related to the region, has decided to postpone it. Locals say that it is a well-planned strategy to take away even the bare minimum being offered to locals in the forms of subsidies and packages. The locals are suffering as the Municipal corporations which assume more powers by virtue of a dissolved assembly have been deeply involved in corrupt practices. In a blatant dereliction of duty, even the fundamental needs of water and cleanliness have not been paid any attention by the authorities. Pakistan’s Ministry of Kashmir affairs and Gilgit Baltistan, which claims to have been doing wonders for the region has gone entirely missing from the scene.
