Pakistan wants tax from GB without giving them any facilities, forces to civilians; massive protest held
Skardu, June 15: The apathy and human rights violation from Pakistani forces and government on the innocent civilians of Gilgit-Baltistan is well known across the world. This has led Gilgit-Baltistan as a centre of protests against Pakistan. Hundreds of protests have been done so far against Pakistani government on various serious issues.
However, for one more time, the people of Gilgit-Baltistan came across the streets and held a massive protest over extremely controversial and derogatory remarks of Chief Secretary Babar Tarar. Notably, Chief Secretary Babar Tarar had a verbal spat with the representatives of the Falahi Committee of Ghanche, a local welfare organization, over poor health facilities in the area.
Chief Secretary Babar Tarar shouted at Khadim Hussain, an activist, for calling the region a disputed territory. He further said that the people of Gilgit-Baltistan were lax in paying their taxes. "How much tax have you been paying to the government? Tell me, how much tax you and your people pay? You have not paid a single rupee. Keep your hands down. The Government of Pakistan has paid 100 billion rupees to Gilgit Baltistan. How much have you paid?", Tarar said during his conversation with Hussain. The video was shot and later went viral on social media.
Reacting to his derogatory remarks, the Falahi Committee of Ghanche called for strike and protest in Khaplu, Skardu and other parts of Gilgit-Baltistan. Protesters in large number came on the streets and burned tyres while chanting slogans against the chief secretary and demanded his immediate removal from the region.
Other Gilgit-Baltistan based organizations across Pakistan including Tanzeem Nojawanan-e-Amal (TNA) also condemned the chief secretary for his comment. On the other side, All Baltistan Movement (ABM) has decided drag the chief secretary in judiciary over his controversial and derogatory remarks.
On June 12, the representatives of the Falahi Committee of Ghanche demanded a gynecologist for ghanche valley where over 37 women have lost their lives during pregnancy due to lack of medical facilities within the short span of two years. But the Chief Secretary instead of expressing sympathy, came up with a harsh attitude asking the representative of Falahi Committee “Tell me how much tax do you pay? “No you aren’t disputed. The government provides the region Rs100 billion, and what is your contribution in return. Tell me?” Chief secretary added.
BACKGROUND:
Gilgit Baltistan is part of an erstwhile princely state of Jammu and Kashmir. Despite being a disputed territory, the region has been paying all indirect taxes to the Government of Pakistan. Local residents are not required to pay direct taxes to Islamabad because it does not have any representation in the national parliament.
Earlier, Gilgit-Baltistan was treated as a separate geographical entity by Pakistan. However, it has regional assembly and an elected Chief Minister.
Gilgit-Baltistan is a legitimate part of Jammu and Kashmir when the accession document was signed by Raja Hari Singh in 1947. But the betrayal of some British officers and raised communal sentiments hijacked the Gilgit-Baltistan at that time. The map of Jammu and Kashmir features the area as part of India.
In 1963, Pakistan illegally ceded the Shaksgam Valley of Gilgit-Baltistan to China in a 1963 border agreement. The area is significant to both Pakistan and China as the $46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) passes through the region. Interestingly, it is also believed that due to China’s pressure Pakistan is planning to declare Gilgit-Baltistan its 5th Province.
The Gilgit-Baltistan occupied by Pakistan covers 85,793 sq km and is treated as a separate geographical entity by Pakistan. It has a regional assembly and an elected chief minister. The area was divided in 1970 into two: Mirpur-Muzaffarabad (Pakistan-occupied Kashmir) and the Federally Administered Gilgit-Baltistan.