Nationalism In Gilgit Baltistan

Nationalist Movement before and after Abdul Hamid khan in Gilgit Baltistan :-
The nationalist movement in different parts of the world were functioning from the stone age. Before the solution of the national problems of small nations and till the political ,constitutional ,geographical and other problems of those deprived nations, ending of nationalist movements are impossible. Gilgit Baltistan is facing the slavery of Pakistan from the last 6 decades. Because of various problems, there are a lot of movements were launched in Gilgit Baltistan in different times. But all movements were closed without any result.
The first political party with the name of Gilgit league was founded by Col. Mizar Hassan khan, after some years of its struggle it was ended. In 1959 quad e Gilgit Johar Ali Khan (late) founded a political party with the name of Millat Party. After the death of Johar Ali khan, it had been discontinued.
In 1969 Fazal Ur Rehaman (late), SSP Amir Hamza (late),Sher Wali Punyali ,Mustafa (Judge) and their friends established a political party with the name of Gilgit Baltistan Laddakh Mutahida Mahaz (GBLMM) which was ended after the so-called package of Z.A.Bhutto's government. In 1984, there were about 5 Engineers including Wazir Tajwar ( sitting Executive Engineer (ExEn) PWD Skardu) launched a movement with the name of Movement for Legal Rights with the help of youth and unemployed persons. Johar Ali Khan ,(Late), latif Hassan (Late), Wajahat Hasan and other senior leaders also support Tajwar and his team. Within one year the
opportunists guys closed this movement after getting some jobs in government and NGOs.
In 1986 Late Qasim Sheraliat ,Dr Sharif Astori and others established a political party after emerging of two student organizations (name of those organizations) with the name of Karakorum National Movement. Which is still functioning actively, but this organization has been changing its manifesto from province to a independent country by its experience of time.
It’s irony, that no manifest or guideline of all the previous parties is to be followed or match the 21st century demand of out nation of Gilgit Baltistan. All the previous and old manifestos were temporary and self-centred, which could not be followed today.
BNF is the only party of the history, which has written manifest, which match the modern demands and could be followed even in the future for long time, without main changes.
In 1992 Nawaz khan Naji introduced a new political party with the name of Balawaristan National Front (BNF). Naji was the creature of Balawaristan the name instead of Northern Areas. His initial ideology was not clear, because his activities along with the un-employed youth. In the beginning only three persons including Abdul Hamid Khan, Shujat Ali and Mohd Rafiq supported Naji's
ideology of "Balawaristan" . BNF was established on 30th July 1992.They tried to educate the masses that they were not Pakistanis,Kashmiri s or Indians, because we have our own identification , the name of our nation is Balawar and we want to make a country with the name of Balawaristan for our people. We are the fourth party of Kashmir dispute.
Naji had no clear idea about the future fate of Gilgit Baltistan. His initial writings show, that he was confusing between independent and within Pakistani boundaries. But Hamid is the person, who had given a clear ideology and written a manifest for an independent country.
After the establishment of BNF Mr. Hamid wrote a manifesto of Balawaristan National Front. BNF started to educate their peoples through the pump-lets, literature and seminars. The manifesto of BNF and literature were created by Abdul Hamid khan, and
that was the real struggle of the history of Gilgit Baltistan. At that time in Gilgit Baltistan the sectarian war was on peak. That war was engineered war, which was designed by the secret services of Pakistan. Pakistani agencies had been created a lot of problems for this organization in the initial stages. The law enforcement forces started to arrest the leaderships of BNF on every 14th August,23 March and 6th September.
In 1994 the leadership of BNF decided to make contacts with those political leaders who are in the interest of liberation as well as they decided to contact the youth for their cause. Without any financial position and aids, these leaders started their work. They tried to convince the public about the disputed position of their mother land. Without feelings of any fear of state forces and secret agencies, they made their movement very fast and active.
Mr Abdul Hamid khan was the first Nationalist leader of Gilgit Baltistan, who was a big challenge for state forces and agencies, because of his political style,boldness and his political steps. The group move forward very actively for the basic rights of the
region. Mr Abdul Hamid and his companions distributed literature through secretly. They made wall chalking at night times. When the youth of Balawaristan started to follow BNF, then agencies looked after their activities.
Some of political conflicts in 1996 BNF was disintegrated into two groups with the name of Naji and Hamid groups. After the solution of the conflicts during the five months Naji and Hamid reorganized BNF again in 1996.BNF specially Hamid khan got success to
make contacts with the nationalist leadership of POK ,Islamabad based diplomats, ambassadors of different countries, United Nations and so many other human rights organization. These all activities were leaded by Mr Abdul Hamid khan.
In 1997 when Pakistan was celebrating the Golden Jubilee programs. Leadership of BNF made an appeal to the political parties as well as to the general public for boycotting the Golden Jubilee celebrations. BNF always have had a plan to celebrate the Black
Jubilee on same day. Only KNM and PPP(SB) group were with BNF in Black Jubilee. PPP(SB) merged into BNF when the leaders were in Chilas jail.
When one week was left for Black Jubilee the central leadership of these three parties went to underground and made plan .On 13 August 1997 Mr Naji arrested from his room of Blor Lodge a local hotel in Gilgit Majini Mahla.Govt was trying to arrest all
of the top leadership including Mr Abdul Hamid khan before the 14th August, but failed. On 14th August at 10:00am, the political activists and their well wisher came to GARI BAAGH in small groups according to their plan.When they reached near GARI BAAGH in the shape of rally , at the same time group of Jamat-e-Islami came to counter with them, because the ISI funded the Jamat-e-Islami to failed the Black Jubilee. Police heade by DSP Raji Rahmat raided almost each and every house of Hamid relatives and friends in Gilgit subarb, but in vain. The nationalist parties including KNM and BNF had passed resolution to handover a memorandum to the UN observers in Jutiyal Giglt after public gathering. When nationalists arrived at the venue of the public gathering at Gadi Bagh District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police first eye to eye contact was observed. Nationalist moved towards the decided place without considering administration. The venue was surrounded by FC (Pakistani Pathan Frontier Constabulary) and heavy contingent of Police.First of all the nationalist started slogan's like PAKISTAN MURDABAD, HE HAQ HAMARI AZADI, LE KE REHEN GAIN AZADI etc these slogans were the totally new for the peoples of Gilgit Baltistan. Because before the black jubilee no any one of the leaders were ready to say something against state. Even no one was ready to say
something against any Govt servant such as SHO. police force, FC and other agencies had cover up the stage including viewers in the leadership of DSP Raji Rehmat(late) . Abdul Hamid Khan who was leading the procession started speech against Pakistan illegal occupation of this region.
Raji Rehmat and his force tried to attack on Abdul Hamid khan, Ali Haider Taj and others activists. When Raji Rehmat attacked on Mr Hamid. Mr Hamid pushed the stars of Raji Rehmat in this tug of war and thus an open fight between political activists and forces was started. They attacked each other by sticks, weapons and stones. Police started the shelling of tear gas. Meanwhile FC were disappeared from the battlefield. After the 40 to 50 minutes ,dozens of political activist including Abdul Hamid khan arrested from the stage. Dr Muzafar rally and some others got success to escape from the scene. At the same day hundreds of political workers from different places of Gilgit, Yasin,and punial were arrested.A big torture campaign was lodged against the political detainess by the local Police headed by SSP Shaukat Rasheed and DSP Raji Rahmat in cantonment police station Gilgit, city police station,sharoot police chowki and Yasin police station. Mr Amir shah and Hashim khan of BNF got success to submit memorandum in UN camp office Jutial Gilgit. Haid ear drum was broken when police force headed by Shaukat Rasheed and Raji Rahmat tortured him severely in the Police Station Cantonment Gilgit. A local prominent journalist Saadat Ali Mujahid along with Iman Shah observed himself bleeding from the ear of Hamid, on the gate of this Police Station, when Police was taking him for the Hospital. But again he was taken in to Police Station without treatment by orders of highly rank Pakistani officials.
After torture these political activists shifted to a remote Torture Cell in Shorote, where Ali Haider Taj and many of them including Shahji Manzoor were complaining of kidney problems and other complications in their body system. On 28th Aug 1997, theye were shifted to Gilgit Jail and then theye were again taken to another notorious Jail in Chilas 130 KM to the South of Gilgit on the KKH by charging section 124 A.
At the occasion some unaware political leadersand so-called constitutional experts guessing, that these political detainees will be held behind bars for the whole life. Because in their view 124 A of sedition charges were applying by the Government against political people first time in the history of Gilgit Baltistan. General people as well as lawyers of the region were unaware about the constitutional position and disputed position of the region. This was the first time the political news of this back ward region were flashed by international news agencies.
According to the political analysis,this movement was the turning point of the Gilgit Baltistan nationalist politics. Agencies and administration blamed Mr Abdul Hamid khan as the mastermind and responsible of this event. In the political history of Gilgit Baltistan the United Nation and international community were exerting pressure on govt of Pakistan for release of the above political detainees, because many Kashmiri leader including Afzal Tahir and others were staging protest in London and other places against Pakistani brutality. After the international pressure the activists were released on 27th Sep. 1997. The international community accepted the dispute position of this region. When these activists were released, the general public were ready to accept the ideology of BNF. A lot of people ,youth and students join BNF. Mr Abdul Hamid khan established a student wing (BNSO) in 1996 in Karachi. This student wing in real sense educate the youth generally and students particularly by it’s peaceful activities among them.
When Mr Abdul Hamid Khan released from the Jail, he continued his struggle very fast then ever. He started to visit Kashmir, Karachi and other places and educate the youth of Gilgit Baltistan. He published many pamphlets and booklets in which he narrated the Political, Economical and culture of the area with detail proofs, which cannot be deviated or negated by any one including government of Pakistan so far. Though his books and magazines were banned and confiscated from the Market.
without any financial position Hamid and his team were challenging the govt and state by appealing grievances and documentary proof. He is the man who first got the record of UNCIP and gave to the Public Library of Gilgit and many people. Government of Pakistan were tried to make Hamid a fearful person, but failed. Agencies also tried to offer different charming packages to Hamid but
couldn't get success.
In 1999 Hamid made proper contacts with different diplomatic channel. He met with Canadian High Commission Head Mr. Perry De Kerchor, Swizerland Ambassador, Japan Political Attache, First Secretary of Belgium Mr. PETER Claes, Mr. Stephen Craiz Bradley Political Secretary of USA, Mr. Rowan Laxton Polital Secretary of UK beside German, Netherlands and France diplomats in Islamabad.
There were a lot of letters written by Hamid to the Govt of different countries and UNO from Gilgit and Islamabad. Mr Hamid faced a lot of crises, because of his weak financial position and financial ban from the government of Pakistan. His sons were working as labour in Gilgit but he never compromise.
BNF was supported throughout the region, due to Hamid day and night struggle among the masses and leaders. He managed to gather different political and religious parties leaders and individuals of the whole region and demonstrated as united nation of Balawaristan. All Political parties including, Pakistan Peoples Party, Pakistan Muslim league, Jamat-e-Islami, Jamat-e-Ulma- e-Islam, karakoram national Movement and MQP etc.The personalities including Qurbal Ali (Late) Ex President of PPP and First Advisor of PPP government from this disputed soil, Major Retired Hussain Shah, Raja Nisar Wali, wajahat Hassan, Haji Abdul Quddus, Rasool Mir, Malik Maskin, Fozia salim Abbas, Mutawali, Wazir jafar from Baltistan, Muhibullah from Gor Chilas, Adv. Shaid, Abbas Kazmi from Skardu, Ma (Dr.) Raja Sultan Abdul hameed Mohammad Ali Changezi, Zillaullah President Jamat-e-Islami Gilgit, Adv. Moahmmad Mushtaq President Jamat-e-Islami Gilgit Baltistan; Abdul Rau Member Municial Committee Gilgit, Sher Khan Village Chief (Nambardar) Tangir;, Qari Attatullah, Jamat-e-Ulma- e-Islam Gilgit;, Syed Yaya Shah a Prominent intellectual of the whole region, DC (Retired) Sherzad, Salman Arif Chairman District Council Gilgit and most trustable and courageous leader Amir Hamza (Late) who had not leave any stone unturned in the case of the nationalism. Who was high ranking Police officer, but has sacrificed his life for cause of the nation. Once he had written a leter to Abdul Hamid Khan on his Police Official letter pade, "I,ll do the services for the nation like a general member of your party, whatever duty is assign to me"
Hamid had written a letter to Secretary General of UNO and all the members of UNSC about Talibaan proposed invasion of Jammu and Kashmir by defeating Gilgit Baltistan on 4th Oct 1998.
At that time the secret agencies were seriously searching Abdul Hamid Khan. He was informed by a local journalist and good friend of him, that ISI is planning to kill him. So he sent his younger kidds to Gilgit from Rawalpindi alone and went underground since March 1999.He lived in Islamabad ,Kashmir,Rawalpindi and Karachi without discosing his position. When he was underground state of order, SSP Amir Hamza(late) ,Dr Abbass and Raja Hussein khan Maqpoon were supporting him. He promoted his international contacts through different sources.
One day a breaking news was heard by the people and nationalists of Gilgit Baltistan that Hamid got success to escape from Pakistan via Karachi Airport. That was blowing news for the agencies and encouraging for the nationalists, because that program was the real agenda of the nationalists.
From the last nine years no one knows about the where abouts Hamid. In the initial stage there were some news from some
radio and TV station flashed where the news casters introduced Hamid as exile leader. On one day there was a website with the name of "www.balawaristan. net" was launched by him. After some gape two Books with the name of "MUQADIMA-E- BALAWARISTAN" Urdu and "THE LAST COLONY OF TWENTY ONE CENTURY" English were received by the large number
of people through postal services with different addresses of different country.
In 2001 when activists of KNM and BNF including Nawaz khan Naji were arrested in Gilgit and sent them to jail., Mr Hamid wrote letters to Secretary General of United Nation, American president and Indian prime minister. After his exile he helped many political friends, because of all these things his friends and co workers high their moral. with the advise and help of Mr Hamid , his
co-workers do arrange different seminars, distribute lot of literature from Gilgit Baltistan to Karachi.
After the exile of Mr Hamid , nationalsim flourished in Gilgit Baltistan. National question of Gilgit Baltistan is raised every
part of the region and also International news papers and TV Channel flashed the small and big activities of BNF and others nationalist perties of Gilgit Baltistan. This is the result of Mr Hamid Struggle, now every Political activist knows the resources and political situation and legal position of this area.
The Pakistani president General Pervaiz Musharraf himself confessed that the Gilgit Baltistan is a disputed area. Before Musharraf no any Pakistani ruler accepted this status. Trough Hamid's struggle at international level, his political fellows got success to make contacts with the nationalist political forces of both parts of Kashmir. Because of these contacts Mr Naji,Col Wajahat, Shafqat, Manzoor parwana, Muzafar Rellay, Mohammad Iqbal Adv. and Dr Abbass were invited to the different international conferences in India and other countries.
Mr Hamid has been supporting all the parties of Gilgit Baltistan without party and religious affiliation. He highlighted Gilgit Baltistan
problems as well as Kashmir equally. Now International Baltistan dispute. Indian TV channels provide proper coverage to the nationalist leaders of this region. Mr Hamid is also highlighting the human rights violation of Gilgit Balistan in front of international
community.
After day and night struggle of Hamid ,now a days international community is considering Gilgit Baltistan with Kashmir dispute through different ways. Now the world is ready to hear the voice of the peoples of our slave nation.When Pakistan feel fear from working style of Hamid ,Pakistani agencies created conflict in between Naji and Hamid. Second line leadership of BNF
was also involve in this personal conflict, because lot of second line leaders join BNF only for their personal interest. In the end of 2006 Naji went to Europe without information to Hamid. when Naji was in London , he start to propaganda against Hamid and BNF through Kashnet. After he arrived in Pakistan, he propaganda against Hamid through local news paper as well as in public
gathering. Naji also announce the new nationalist party with the name of Balawaristan National Party,but he failed because all the Senior members of BNF differed him, and continue their struggle through BNF. Once again Naji announce that, I'm the founder of
BNF, and it is my own party, Hamid should launch other party. But Mr Mohd Rafiq, Hyder shah Rizvi, Ali Madad Bai, Burhan Ullah, Ali Haieder Taj, Safder khan, Khusleem Jan, shujaat Ali the whole central cabinet and others activist of BNF as well as BNSO Karachi strongly condemned Naji proposal.
It’s noteable, that Hamid did not utter any single word against Naji in the media and website.But some of others member,like Hasnain Kazmi,Syed Manzoor, Nadim Ayoup and Yasir Balawaristani and some relatives of Naji and few members of BNSO in Hyderabadare supporting Naji. The other members of BNF, like Mr Shafqat Inqilabi and Ali Mohd are playing
a neutral role. These activists neither favour Naji nor working with BNF. Shafqat Inqilabi closed his activities but he is working individually through other ways like Kashnet.
Few of pro Naji group blames that Hamid and his team is responsible of this conflict because the relatives of Hamid try to influence in the party and some of other opportunists of Hamid group were working on the directives of Hamid. In other hand anti Naji group is
blaming that Naji change his political way under the pressure of Pakistani agencies, because he is not a bold person. They blame that Naji group is attached with Pakistani agencies and these agents use Naji.
The general public political figures of Gilgit Baltistan also condemn Naji. According to political analyst , Naji did that crime (division) on which Pakistani agencies were failed from last 10 years.
Ramzan Shah Director
Gilgit Baltistan Research Group