Last Updated on November 27, 2020 at 9:32 am
Pakistan-occupied Gilgit Baltistan people are continuously holding violent protests in the region over rigged assembly elections against Prime Minister Imran Khan-led Pakistan government.
There have been many instances of protesters burning tyres and blocking the roads to express their anger and frustration.
In these elections, Khan’s party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has secured a majority with 23 assembly seats and is all set to form the government.
The opposition has called the election rigged and accused the government of the blatant misuse of power.
Many political parties of the region have called their supporters to join the demonstrations and as a result, hundreds of people became a part of the protest. When asked, protestors say that they will continue to protest until justice is delivered to them.
Pakistan has a major interest in holding elections in all the illegally occupied regions but this year’s elections had a special significance for the nation.
China wants Pakistan to have complete political control over the region for its strategic China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Pakistan PM Imran Khan had declared the status of a provisional province to Gilgit Baltistan (GB).
There have been reports that both Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslims League-Nawaz have alleged of rigging in the recent GB elections. As of now, there has been no winner announced from the Pakistan-occupied region.
PTI got the majority with 10 seats in all the 23 constituencies and became the largest party according to the unofficial results. Independent candidates won seven seats.
Pakistani newspaper Dawn reported that the PPP won three seats, the PML-N two and the Majlis Wahdatul Muslimeen got one seat.
Pakistan is planning to grant the status of a state to Gilgit-Baltistan, which is its northernmost part in its official map. If that happens then G-B will become the fifth province of Pakistan, however India claims the region as a part of the Jammu & Kashmir as it existed in 1947 when accessed to India.
Elections were held on November 15 in this disputed region between India and Pakistan. Elections were held for the roughly 1.2 million residents of the region.
Earlier, the polls were expected to be held on August 18, but Pakistan’s election commission decided to postpone them because of the coronavirus pandemic.
