Month: February 2024
Gilgit-Baltistan: GB Protests Demand End to Marginalization, Recognition of Rights
Gilgit: OVER recent decades, in social and political theory, the notions of ‘core’ or centre, and ‘periphery’ have been challenged and completely upended. In earlier social science, especially under the hegemony of colonial writings, which morphed into what scholars termed as ‘orientalism’, centre or core, and periphery mattered, primarily to emphasise dominance based largely on racial and religious caricature.
The ‘centre’ was always London or Paris, when it came to British or French imperialism, and the colonies were, literally, the peripheries, inconsequential to how they perceived themselves to be, marginalised. The entire structure of colonialism is based on this lie.
Subsequently, later in social theory, notions of democracy, liberalism, religious and other practices, were also put into a comparative frame of ‘real’ or ‘authentic’ practices (of the West, developed countries), contrasted with more localised, indigenous or evolutionary practices in other parts of the world, away from whatever was considered the core at any particular time. At times, such a core or centre was a physical location, at others an ideology, or a practice or particular way of doing something.
In Pakistan too, this notion of centre/ core and periphery, has had both locational and ideological moorings, the dur-daraz ilaqay, both in terms of where they are and how ‘backward’ they are considered to be. However, the politics of agitation, protest and resistance is reorienting and refocusing such notions completely, overturning outmoded concepts, bringing the periphery right onto the central platform.
Today, both Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan, considered to be marginalised, peripheral, ‘out there’, ‘backward’ locations, are rewriting a politics which is taking centre stage and undermining the centre. The periphery speaks truth to power. The voices of the oppressed people are now increasingly being heard, and the oppressed are finding supporters among those who reside in the locales of power. Protest movements in both regions, Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan, both of a very different nature, in terms of locale as well as demands, are countering the centre from where such concerns originate.
The GB sit-in, too, related to issues which emanate from the centre, Islamabad, such as the withdrawal on wheat subsidy or the imposition of taxes, has lasted a month in temperatures which are often sub-zero. The sit-in has moved towards a complete shutter-down strike and closure, with little public transport and protests all over the region.
As is clear to all, the protest by the people of Gilgit-Baltistan is not simply about the price of flour, but is enveloped in many years of marginalisation and neglect emanating from the centre, including the need to recognise the basic constitutional rights of the people of the region. Also similar to Balochistan is the grievance that locals are denied opportunities for employment or economic growth.
It is not just the Baloch or the people of Gilgit-Baltistan who have come to challenge the hegemony and dominance of the centre, of Punjab and Islamabad; importantly and most noticeably, it has been the women, especially from Balochistan, who have emerged as leaders and spokeswomen asking difficult questions and demanding answers from the powers responsible for those who are being disappeared or silenced.
Just as social and political theory has been forced to surrender to the hegemony and dominance of the so-called norm, which was always conceived in an imagined and imperious centre, after being challenged by indigenous ideas from indigenous people, so too, the dominant ideas and practices from the centre in countries are being challenged by those supposedly on the margins. The voices of the marginalised and oppressed people of Pakistan are now increasingly being heard, and the oppressed are finding supporters and sympathisers among those who reside in locales of power.
The complacent, secure and comfortable centre in Pakistan — of politics, privilege and policy — is being overturned by those who have been marginalised, oppressed and underprivileged, from the furthest regions in the furthest peripheries of the country, as their voices now increasingly become mainstream.
Courtesy: Dawn
Gilgit-Baltistan: GB Protesters Key Demands
Gilgit: Frustrated by unresolved issues, the Awami Action Committee (AAC) has rallied religious and political groups to mobilize large crowds across the region. Their demands, outlined in a 15-point charter, aim to pressure both local and federal governments for solutions. Rejecting a recent decision of the GB Government, the AAC vowed to continue their protests. AAC Leader Ehsan Ali Advocate emphasized their core demand: the implementation of all 15 points outlined in their charter. They remain resolute in their pursuit of resolution, determined to see their demands fully addressed.
The 15 points Charter of Demands presented by the AAC are as under:
- Freeze wheat subsidy at 2022 rates. Provide each person with 9 kilograms of wheat per month.
- Cancel Gilgit-Baltistan Finance Act 2023 and end all taxes imposed in Gilgit-Baltistan.
- End the successive governments’ ‘artificially created power crisis’ in the region and increase electricity production.
- Sign an agreement with the federal government on the lines of the “National Finance Commission” to get financial resources for Gilgit-Baltistan.
- Accept ownership of locals over all uncultivated and barren land through the Gilgit-Baltistan Reforms Bill.
- Replace GB Assembly with a constituent assembly.
- Provide free electricity to Gilgit-Baltistan from Diamer-Bhasha Dam and give 80% royalty to GB in lieu of Water User Rights and Net Hydel Profits.
- Cancel all mining leases given to non-locals and award the leases to locals of Gilgit-Baltistan.
- Declare Tourism and Transportation as Industries in GB.
- Construct Shounter Tunnel to promote tourism in Gilgt-Baltistan.
- Construct medical and engineering colleges in Gilgt-Baltistan.
- Establish a university for women in GB.
- Restore all ancient trade routes and roads.
- Award PSPD contracts to local contractors in Gilgit-Baltistan.
- Make NATCO profitable by giving it transportation contract for wheat supply.
courtesy: Dawn & PT
Gilgit Baltistan Bulletin 