Independence day celebrated in Gilgit-Baltistan
Shah Khan – Hero of the War of Indpendence, Chief Secretary, Force Commander NAs and Chief Executive NAs offering Fatiha at Yadgar-e-Shuhada in Chinarbagh, Gilgit
By: Zulfiqar Ali Khan
Hunza/Gilgit, November 3: The 61st Independence Day of Gilgit-Baltistan has been celebrated with traditional fervour.
The celebrations started in Chinar Bagh, Gilgit where Babar Yaqub Fatah Muhammad; Chief Secretary NAs, Maj General Muzammil Hussain; Force commander NAs, Mir Ghazanfer Ali Khan; Chief Executive Northern Areas along with other senior government officials and retired army personnel participated in a simple flag hosting ceremony. They laid floral wreaths and offered fateha at the mausoleum of the heroes of the war of independence and paid tributes for leading the successful revolt against Dogra Raj.
A rally was held from Chinar Bagh to City Park in which a large number of students from the local schools were holding placards having Independence Day slogans. The Chief Secretary despatched aid goods of two trucks to the earthquake victims of Balochistan. He also announced to donate two-day salary of the government employees of NAs for the quake victims of Balochistan.
The cultural programme scheduled at City Park was cancelled to show solidarity with the aggrieved People of Balochistan.
The Force Commander NAs also hosted a special dinner participated by a large number of civil and army officials, members NALA ad retired army personnel. The Force Commander distributed gifts among the retired army personnel.
Syed Jafar Shah, President Pakistan Peoples Party, NAs while addressing to the Independence Day gathering at Ghakuch, Ghizar said that the federal government is devising a comprehensive constitutional package for Gilgit-Baltistan which will end the 61 years long deprivation of the people of the region.
Small gatherings were also organised in all government schools of Gilgit-Baltistan where the speakers paid tributes to the heroes of the war of independence.
The Gilgit-Baltistan Democratic Alliance (GBDA) also organised a congregation in Gilgit where speakers stressed the need to declare the constitutional status of the region. The speakers said that the people of the region have rendered sacrifices for the country however the region is still deprived of basic human rights. For more pictures visit ww.khunjerab.multiply.com
Gilgit serves as an integral region nettled between the cluster of mountains. Even though, the progress of social structure is smooth, yet, the eye of attention is leaving a spacious vacuum. I request the vigilante and care takers of this well-disguised region to expose the face of truth as a token of rendering the due services to the region.
Gilgit: a historical background
The bout of injustice was taking a heavy toll on the beleaguered lives of people, the shadow of tyranny was expanding with every proceeding day and a ruthless system of discrimination was imposed upon the handful populace of Gilgit-Baltistan. The malicious control of Sikhs over the territorial spread of this region left an indelible mark of sheer atrocity on the hearts of people, casting a morose episode in the pages of history. The military regiments, fanned out across the length and breadth, were entitled with every article of freedom to humiliate the innocent public on moral, spiritual and religious axis. A systemic policy with calculated measures was enacted to subvert the ideological doctrine of Muslims and infuse the elements of polytheism in the genes of their civilization. The flanks of culture, religion, morality and wisdom were exposed to the constant onslaught of their heretic arguments. A blanket ban on the slaughter of cows was in operation, in the same go, the spiritual rituals of Muslims were blasphemed with the luxury of complete immunity. The conscience of our forefathers was pricked by loading them with the tag of ‘slaves’ licking the shoes of their battalions. Serfdom has never been served as a permanent guest in our history and this aura runs into our immediate legacy. In response, an ever brimming surge of anger with a sense of indictment collectively transformed a revolt in their hearts of people who once had a stick to shepherd the herds of goats took to the swords and indigenous tools of aggression. Their revolt rose like the turbulent tides of ocean and run amok the hurdles placed in their way to the frontiers of liberty. A trickle of blood was witnessed in the rivers of Gilgit-Baltistan in the month of November when the revolt reached its climax and the land of our forefathers got cleansed from the evil presence of Sikhs. The liberators of this land dug their own graves but did not allow an iota of disloyalty to perch in their hearts. The people of Gilgit-Baltistan should peek back into the window of history to let their minds experience a gallant drive into the valleys of battlefields where the death knocks at the door of life without permission.