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Pakistan occupied Kashmir: Northen Areas

Posted by Nikhil on Wednesday, December 31, 2008

The Northern Areas in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) have been split into five districts: Gilgit, Baltistan, Diamir, Ghizer and Ghanche. A population of 1.5 million inhabits a vast area of 72,495 square kilometers. Sparsely populated as the area is, the ethnic groups are varied – Baltees, Vashkuns, Mughals, Kashmiris, Pathans, Ladakhis and Turks, speaking a multiplicity of languages, including Balti, Shina, Brushaski, Khawer, Wakhi, Turki, Tibeti, Pushto and Urdu.Justify Full

The Northern Areas are the only region in Pakistan whose status is not specified in the Constitution. While Kashmir is mentioned as a disputed territory, the Northern Areas find no mention in the relevant schedule, nor do they have an autonomous or constitutional status of their own. The people of these areas are not citizens of Pakistan within the meaning of the Constitution and do not enjoy any fundamental, legal, political or civil rights guaranteed by the Constitution. The region is also out of bounds to foreigners and journalists, except for occasional tightly controlled guided tours selectively organised by the Army or the intelligence agencies.

No assembly till 1994!
Until 1994, the people of the Northern Areas had no elected assembly, or even a municipal council, and no representation in the Federal National Assembly. In October 1994, the Federal Government allowed the political parties of Pakistan, but not of ‘Azad Kashmir’, to extend their activities to the Northern Areas.
The first party-based elections to a 26-member council called the Northern Areas Executive Council, were held in October 1994. But the council had no legislative authority, only advisory powers. The real power continued to be vested in the Ministry of Kashmir and Northern Areas Affairs headed by a Joint Secretary to the Government of Pakistan based in Islamabad, which exercised supreme control in all matters.
A verdict of the Supreme Court of Pakistan in March 1999 recommending the extension of legislative, financial and administrative powers as well as an independent judiciary with writ jurisdiction, paved the way for the first Northern Areas Legislative Council to be elected in 2000. It was granted powers to legislate on local matters and impose local taxes. But the superstructure of the Northern Areas administration was left unchanged so that Pakistan's Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs continues to be its chief executive.
Northern Areas Structure of Governance

It has the status of a Federally Administered Area. The chief executive authority for the region is the Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs, Northern Areas, States and Frontier Regions. Assisting him is a Deputy Chief Executive who is appointed by the Chief Executive from amongst the members of the Northern Areas Legislative Council, who shall be elected by majority vote by the members of the Council. The Deputy Chief Executive is effectively a Minister of State. Advisors, who are appointed by the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Deputy Chief Executive, from amongst the members of the Northern Areas Legislative Council, assist the Deputy Chief Executive. The Advisors are entitled to the status of a Provincial Minister.

Northern Areas Legislative Council
The Northern Areas Legislative Council is headed by the Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs, Northern Areas, States and Frontier Regions and it meets only when the Minister convenes it.
Development
The Northern Areas remain one of the most neglected and poorest part. In 1981, the female literacy rate in the region was just 3% and the male literacy rate was 14.7% . There is no industry to speak of except a few brick kilns. According to an article on the World Bank website, "Over 90 percent of the region’s 800,000 people live in small villages scattered along valleys carved by glacial streams and rivers. Subsistence agriculture is the norm and access to basic social services is often limited or unavailable. Roads are few, with one highway as virtually the only link to Pakistan."

The Pakistani Government has reportedly set up only 12 high schools and two regional colleges in the Northern Areas, with no post graduate facilities. Very few locals are able to secure government jobs, and when they do, they are paid 25 per cent less than non-native entrants from Pakistan's Punjab province. There are no local dailies, or local radio or television stations. According to the most recently available data, there is just one doctor for 6,000 people. Piped water supply is virtually non-existent. And two thirds of the population must do without electricity in an area where winters are extremely harsh.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

dear peace lover
as per un resolution both sides of kashmir is disputed.it is a shame to use occupied pakistani kashmir.in fact this is u resolution to let kashmiris decide.but india is occupying kashmir.
and yes i have indean friends .they are great friends.
take care
abdul

Nikhil said...

Dear Abdul,

I agree on the UN resolution. But who invited UN to this matter? Pt Jawahar Lal Nehru...

Also, it was Pakistan (in disguise of Kabailies) which attacked Kashmir in 1948.

I agree with you that Kashmiris should have the right to decide, but this should be in case of complete Kashmiri population including the displaced migrants (Kasmiri Pundits).

Your Friend.

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