Independence Of Gilgit Baltistan By Sohail Ahmad.

Independence Of Gilgit Baltistan:

TRIBUTE-TO-GB-INDEPENDENCE

Gilgit Baltistan also known as the Northern Area. The people of Gilgit Baltistan celebrates 1st November as their Independence Day from the Dogra’s Family of Kashmir. Before the Independence Day, Gilgit was a part Jammu Kashmir State which is one of the largest states of India. The state of Jammu Kashmir was created in the result of treaty signed between the Britishers and Gulab Singh from the Dogra Dynasty.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:

In the first Anglo-Sikh war (1845-46), Gulab Singh, the ruler of Jammu in Sikh Empire, supported the British of East India Company. After the war, British tributed Gulab Singh for his loyalty during the war and sold Kashmir to Gulab Singh for 7.5 million rupees of that time on 16 March, 1846. Hence, Gulab Singh became the first Maharaja of the Jammu and Kashmir State of the Subcontinent. The Baltistan region was handed over to the Dogra’s in early 1840. The setup of new administrated Baltistan was made part of Ladakh as tehsil named as Skardu.

The Dogra's Family ruled on the Gilgit Baltistan up to 1935. After 1935, the British leased Gilgit Baltistan from Gulab Singh. After the Second World War, British became weakened and they wanted to transfer the power to the local hands of Subcontinent. Therefore, the lease between the Britishers and the Dogra’s Raja was cancelled and Gilgit Baltistan was given to Governor Ghansara. After some time that is on October 26th and 27th, the Maharaja of Kashmir State announced to become part of India and India sent its army to Kashmir State.

STRUGGLE FOR INDEPENDENCE:

When the Maharaja of Kashmir State announced to become part of India, the Indian Army invaded the State of Kashmir. The captain named as Mirza Hassan Khan from the State Army and Subedar-Major Baber Khan and other officers from the Gilgit Baltistan Scouts started their struggle for Independence. They launched an operation at night between October 31st and 1st November 1947 and arrested the Governor Ghansara in Gilgit. The force was led by Captain Mirza Hassan Khan and they started their attack on Sikh companies of Bunji and moved forward into the Baltistan Region. The Governor Ghansara was arrested on the morning of 1st November 1947 and Captain Mirza Hassan Khan announced an Independent State as Islamic Republic of Gilgit Baltistan and continued their struggle for the remaining area of Gilgit Baltistan. Fifteen days after the Independence, the Gilgit Baltistan became part of Pakistan unconditionally.

CURRENT STATUS OF GILGIT BALTISTAN:

Gilgit Baltistan became part of Pakistan but due to the disputed status of the area, it was not officially recognized. It was ruled and controlled by the executive. Gilgit Baltistan was known as Northern Areas up to 2009, But in 2009 it was named as Gilgit Baltistan under the Empowerment and Self-Governance Order,2009. This name also replaced Northern Area Legislative Council with Legislative Assembly. The Legislative Assembly is an elected body but it has just an advisory role to the Minister of Kashmir and Northern Area Affairs who exercised their power from Islamabad. In 2018, the Government of Pakistan passed an order and delegated some power to the Legislative Assembly. This order was challenged before the Supreme Court of Pakistan in 2019. The Supreme Court repealed the order and gave the direction to the Government to replace it with Governance Reforms but it was not yet done. Meanwhile, Supreme Court also extended its jurisdiction to Gilgit Baltistan.