Masood Ali Khan

Date: July 23, 2018

Respected residents of Gilgit-Baltistan!

It was pleasure knowing that the previous government (PPP)declared the Status of GB and was a step towards more development with respect to the official status of GB as a province and membership in the national assembly. There is two side of it, as before that the people were clear about the blur status of the region and the international say on it however after status declaration by the previous government, the people started dreaming of our elected members in the parliament discussing our issues and trying to motivate and influence other members to say yes GB needs more development budget, infrastructure can more be polished to attract tourists, use the land as income generation source (that is already used for) but cannot be discussed  openly, even than the public servants getting their salaries from the direct or indirect taxes of the people are allowed to harass general public while requesting their needs to be fulfilled (we all witnessed a couple of months back). Anyhow, still we love our beautiful country “Pakistan” but it is difficult to bear the dirty politics of interest groups across the nation especially with respect to GB.

We do blame the youth of other areas for the poor status of their living but the development of GB is now none of our business too, that is unfortunate. Till now, we haven’t seen any one asking any political member in public gathering to share his progress whereas; we witnessed it in Sindh and all other parts of the country. Let’s accept it that we are educated but have nothing to do with politics and politics is only the job of specific families and interest groups. We ourselves are providing room for them so they can dance the way they want and change the beat on their will.

Anyhow, Yes!!

July 25, 2018 is another opportunity for all of us to decide whom to elect and what to be our criterion for that. Oh, am sorry!!! The residents of GB despite of living in other parts of Pakistan cannot be part of the Election process because of their status but was it not declared during the tenure of the previous government??? No, that was a good start but the current government played its key role to transfer the power to the center naming it a soft reform. People gathered against it against the changes made but are now named as movements against CPEC which is another hot topic for the people who can foresee the future of GB due to this game changer.

Dear All, let’s play key role on the day of elections by sitting in front of television with a cup of tea and praising ourfavorite political parties. We can also call any of our friends from the same area to accompany us in this role. But on 26thJuly, we all will reach to our work places, discuss the results of elections for some time and then start our work for living. That’s the end of election 2018.

Am wondering and thinking that will it be possible we truly wait for casting our votes with full excitement and elect our representative to discuss our issues in the parliament. It is yet difficult but not impossible so let’s hope for the best and prepare ourselves for the next general elections.

Regards.

The writer is student of M.Phil International Development Studies and can be reached at [email protected]