Gilgit- Baltistan: A Protest of None

 

Social media becomes a battleground of sorrow and adversaries in the picturesque land of Gilgit-Baltistan, where mountain peaks stand tall and political shenanigans run deep.

Like clockwork every winter, the masses take to the streets, raising a ruckus against the government for unkept promises and the audacity to trim down wheat subsidies while jacking up prices.

In this exotic tourist haven, once known for nomads and hippies, now besieged by the fallout of bureaucratic missteps, a peculiar dance of discontent unfolds. Before 9/11, it was the haunt of wanderers, but post-2015, local tourism surged, seeking refuge from sectarian conflicts. The economy boomed when investors started to invest in premium real estate. Yet, the real estate game is played in a manner that makes politics seem straightforward.

Since the demise of princely states in Gilgit-Baltistan, customary laws have been a bone of contention.

Locals yearn for autonomy, demanding their rightful share from the National Finance Commission.

Alas, the Pakistani establishment, preoccupied with the Kashmir problem, isn't keen on sharing the autonomy pie for fear of muddying the waters on a united front. As the economy relies on local trade, tourism, forests, high-altitude expeditions, customs duties, and indirect taxes, the financial structure seems more like a script for a chaotic play than a well-thought-out plan. Departments abound, yet Kashmir Affairs and the GB Council hold the reins of policies and regulations.

Amidst all this, elections loom large on the 8th and 9th of February.

The mainstream media, however, is busy bartering votes for candidates with an apparent affinity for the interim government.

This clandestine alliance ensures that the turmoil in GB, where cities like Gilgit and Skardu erupted in protest against rising prices and slashed subsidies, remains confined to the shadows. Under the banner of the Awami Action Committee, various political factions, independent candidates, and nationalist fronts orchestrate a symphony of dissent. The people of GB must decipher the government's true intentions—playing a game of constitutional limbo to nurture terrorism, provide safe havens, showcase exotic destinations, and offer a pastime for the lethargic youth seeking rehabilitation in the mountainous realms. The political theatre continues, and Gilgit-Baltistan remains caught in the crossfire of agendas and aspirations.

In recent months, the government has proposed to redirect subsidized wheat towards those below the poverty line.

Their first move involved cutting the subsidized wheat supply to government officials, but the execution of this initiative needed to be more precise. The government needs comprehensive data on the financial standings of hardworking families striving to put food on the table.

On the flip side, the sentiment among the people is crystal clear: if the government isn't willing to grant constitutional status, then there's no need for the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly, no need for elections, no need for public representatives, and certainly no need for government departments. The region should be declared disputed, and the customary laws of yore should govern.

A closer look at the prevailing climatic conditions underscores the indispensability of customary laws in environmental protection.

These laws prove instrumental in safeguarding pastures, glaciers, water streams, trees, and large-scale constructions. Over the past five years, the hospitality industry has recklessly felled more than 500 fruit trees to make way for buildings, sacrificing the natural landscape. Gilgit-Baltistan needs an urban planning department, and there are no regulations for collecting taxes from commercial entities. Prominent establishments such as hotels, banks, restaurants, and guest houses aren't obligated to pay environmental taxes.

In a peculiar twist, government departments are operating restaurants, media agencies, hotels, and event management companies, but more mechanisms must be needed to support indigenous people. The market crumbles when regulators turn into competitors. I've visited numerous places sponsored or owned by government departments, and upon closer inspection, the landscape resembles North Korea, where private property ownership is a rare luxury. The intricacies of governance and development paint a perplexing picture in the region.