Syed Shams Uddin
All Parties Conference on Gilgit-Baltistan’s Constitutional Status
Quite fortunate it is that the All Parties Conference (APC) held on January 17, 2025, at Islamabad’s National Press Club represents a landmark moment in Gilgit-Baltistan’s prolonged struggle for constitutional recognition. This event signifies a rare political consensus among various factions, including representatives from the PML-N, PPP, PTI, JUI-F, Majlis-i-Wahdat Muslimeen, Islami Tehreek-i-Pakistan, and the GB government spokesperson. The collective demand for constitutional recognition underscores the urgency of resolving GB’s ambiguous status within Pakistan’s political framework.
Gilgit-Baltistan has remained in a constitutional limbo since its liberation from Dogra rule in 1947. Historically, the region was forcibly annexed by the Jammu and Kashmir State during the latter half of the 19th century but was eventually freed by its own people on November 1, 1947, through an indigenous movement. The renowned leader of Gilgit-Baltistan, late Jauhar Ali Khan Advocate, aptly referred to this episode as a mere 'Entry and Exit,' emphasizing that GB never became an integral part of the J&K State. The people of the region argue that the issue should be viewed in its strict historical context, considering their liberation was in line with the political currents of the Indo-Pak subcontinent, which culminated in the emergence of Pakistan under the dynamic leadership of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
Despite its de facto integration with Pakistan, GB has neither been formally declared a constitutional province nor granted representation in Pakistan’s Parliament. The region’s governance has evolved through various executive orders, including the Gilgit-Baltistan Empowerment and Self-Governance Order of 2009 and later amendments, which have failed to address the core demand of full constitutional rights for its people. The absence of constitutional recognition has led to political disenfranchisement, economic marginalization, and a lack of federal investment in critical infrastructure.
The unprecedented unity among political and religious leaders in the APC reflects the shared realization that the constitutional status of GB is the foremost concern for its people. The conference emphasized the need to implement the proposals made by late federal ministers Sartaj Aziz and Farogh Naseem, who advocated granting GB provisional constitutional province status. This move would provide the region with representation in Pakistan’s National Assembly and Senate, empowering its people with legislative authority over local governance and resource management.
Beyond the constitutional aspect, the APC highlighted the economic hardships faced by GB residents, including high unemployment, underdevelopment, and insufficient federal funding. The lack of constitutional status has historically impeded the flow of resources and investment into the region, limiting opportunities for its youth and hindering overall socio-economic progress. Granting GB a provisional constitutional province status would open avenues for greater financial allocations, infrastructural projects, and job creation, thereby uplifting the region’s economy.
Despite the strong call for constitutional recognition, challenges persist. Some quarters within the establishment argue that fully integrating GB into Pakistan could have diplomatic ramifications concerning the Kashmir dispute. However, proponents of constitutional recognition argue that a provisional province status, as recommended by Sartaj Aziz and Farogh Naseem, offers a balanced approach—one that secures GB’s rights without undermining Pakistan’s stance on Kashmir.
The January 17 All Parties Conference (APC) represents a landmark step in addressing Gilgit-Baltistan’s core issue—its constitutional identity. For decades, the people of GB have been caught in a political and legal limbo, denied the fundamental rights and representation enjoyed by other regions of Pakistan. This conference, bringing together a diverse spectrum of political and religious factions, underscores a historic consensus on the urgent need to grant GB constitutional recognition. The collective demand voiced at the APC not only strengthens the legitimacy of GB’s long-standing call for integration but also exerts significant pressure on federal authorities to take decisive action.
Should the government move forward with the proposal to grant provisional provincial status to GB, it would mark a turning point in the region’s history, offering its people long-overdue political rights, economic opportunities, and legislative empowerment. Full constitutional status, even on a provisional basis, would provide GB with representation in Pakistan’s National Assembly and Senate, ensuring that the voices of its people are heard in national policymaking. Furthermore, it would establish a framework for direct federal investment in the region’s infrastructure, energy sector, education, and healthcare, helping to alleviate decades of socio-economic neglect.
Beyond its political and developmental implications, constitutional recognition would also serve as a unifying factor for the people of GB, who have long felt alienated due to their exclusion from mainstream governance structures. By integrating GB more formally into Pakistan’s federal system, the government would reinforce national unity while also addressing a critical governance gap that has hindered progress in the region.
Nevertheless, challenges remain. Some quarters within the establishment and diplomatic circles caution that any formal change in GB’s status could have ramifications on Pakistan’s stance on the Kashmir dispute. However, proponents of constitutional recognition argue that a provisional province status, as proposed by the late Sartaj Aziz and Farogh Naseem, offers a pragmatic middle ground—one that secures the political rights of GB’s people without compromising Pakistan’s international position on Kashmir.
In this context, the January 17 APC serves as a powerful catalyst for change, setting the stage for what could be the most significant political development in GB’s history since its liberation in 1947. The unprecedented unity displayed by various political stakeholders makes it clear that this issue transcends partisan politics and ideological divides. Now, the responsibility rests squarely on Pakistan’s leadership to demonstrate the political will to translate this consensus into concrete legislative action. Failing to act on this historic moment could lead to further frustration and disenchantment among the people of GB, while seizing this opportunity would ensure justice, recognition, and lasting progress for a region that has remained on the fringes of Pakistan’s constitutional framework for far too long. The ball is now in the court of Pakistan’s decision-makers—it is time to move beyond symbolic measures and take bold, definitive steps to secure the rights, future, and dignity of the people of Gilgit-Baltistan.
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