Pakistan forcibly stopped a rally in Gilgit-Baltistan in its latest effort to curb free speech in the region. This rally in Gilgit was called by the National Equality Party JKGBL (Jammu Kashmir Gilgit-Baltistan and Ladakh) to create awareness amongst the people of Gilgit-Baltistan about the Pakistani invasion on the erstwhile princely state of Jammu & Kashmir on October 22, 1947.
“The National Equality Party, JKGBL, had announced a peaceful rally in Gilgit against the October 22, 1947 Pakistani invasion and occupation of the state. However, before the time of the rally, Pakistani agencies and police held National Equality Party JKGBL central vice chairman Ghiasuddin Gilgit and party workers hostage at gunpoint at the Palace Hotel, while workers of all banned terrorist organizations were let loose in the city to harass and intimidate the peaceful political workers,” said the National Equality Party JKGBL in its statement.
The National Equality Party JKGBL (Jammu Kashmir Gilgit Baltistan and Ladakh) has strongly condemned this naked state terrorism by Pakistan and said that such measures cannot demoralize them. The National Equality Party JKGBL further added that they would expose Pakistan’s terrorism to the world and make the world aware of the true face of Pakistan.
The people of Gilgit-Baltistan have been protesting against Pakistan’s efforts to declare Gilgit-Baltistan as its fifth province. Massive protests have been going on across the region against Pakistan’s move and Kashmiris see this move as a direct sell out of Gilgit-Baltistan to China. Islamabad and Rawalpindi are under immense pressure from China to not allow any rally, protest or demonstration in any part of Gilgit-Baltistan that may give a hint to the outside world about the real state of affairs in Gilgit-Baltistan and POK (Pakistan-occupied Kashmir).
In fact, before October 22 1947 when Pakistan attacked the princely state of Jammu & Kashmir with its ill-intention to capture Kashmir, the entire state of Jammu & Kashmir was ruled by Maharaja Hari Singh.