OPINION: PDM bid to eliminate Imran from political landscape

In the massive economic, political, social and constitutional crisis, Pakistan's coalition government, in connivance with the Army, trained its gun at Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK) and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) where Imran Khan's party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) rules these regions.

The coalition government of Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) and the Army ganged up against POK Prime Minister Tanveer Ilyas, who was disqualified from being a member of the Legislative Assembly and holding any public office for two years by the POK Supreme Court on 13th April.

This act was purely of political vengeance when Ilays was framed under contempt for remarks against the judiciary function in Islamabad for interfering in the domain of the executive through the grant of stay orders in POK. In fact, Ilays had blamed the courts for creating hurdles in implementation of a $15-million Saudi education project as a direct investment in the occupied territory.

The court issued the stay order against the Saudi project and has even frozen the development funds for POK at a time when Pakistan itself is facing an irretrievable economic crisis. But the real target behind Ilyas' removal is Imran Khan, whom the PDM coalition government - led by the Pakistan Muslim League (N) and headed by Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif - and the military establishment want to trap in a crime of disproportionate magnitude.

However, Khawaja Farooq Ahmad was immediately replaced as Acting Prime Minister of POK on April 12, 2023. POK has 53 seats. PTI with 31 seats and its ally Muslim Conference occupying one seat enjoy a comfortable majority of 32, rule the region. The Opposition has the strength of only 20 members from PML-N (7), PPP (12) and JKPP (1). The tenure of the POK is expiring in July 2026.

In the present chaos in Pakistan, all eyes are on the Army Chief General Syed Asim Munir because of the history of the country's martial rule. It is beyond doubt that the military and military dictators are the root cause of where Pakistan is today, and those opposed to them have always faced problems created by unscrupulous politicians. Imran Khan too has opposed the Army, corrupt politicians and other institutions.

General Munir visited forward areas along the Line of Control (LoC) on April 13, 2023, with a definite strategy to divert Pakistan's attention towards the support and solidarity in the struggle for freedom of Kashmir. As per the plan of ISI, it has ignited a new fire in the morale and ambition of the freedom-loving people but also strengthens hope and belief. Such steps are seen as a positive development for those interested in the Kashmir cause in Pakistan.

Munir reiterated his unequivocal support for the Kashmir cause while addressing his soldiers on LoC and wanted a solution to Jammu and Kashmir as per United Nations resolutions. According to intelligence reports, ISI has activated its sleeper cells in Kashmir valley to act at the appropriate time. Keeping the Kashmir pot boiling for their vested interest, ISI has activated West-based Kashmiris to raise public awareness as well as highlight the Kashmir issue in their respective countries to grant the right of self-determination to the Kashmiris in accordance with the UN resolutions.

The pathetic story of illegally occupied Gilgit-Baltistan is not different from POK. While POK has a financial agreement with the Pakistan government for which it gets its share, GB does not have such an agreement and it has to depend on the grant in aid from the Centre. It is an established fact that past governments never allowed GB to become financially independent. Pakistan purposely kept the region dependent on help from the Centre.

Recently, GB Finance Minister raised the issue on the floor of the House that the region can't depend any further on the grant in aid. He said they are preparing a Revenue Act that will help them in creating income on the local level and will make them economically self-reliant. The GB region is gifted by natural resources and if used wisely, the region will emerge as the richest area of the world.

In GB's 33-member House, PTI heads the government with 22 legeslators led by Muhammad Khalid Khurshid Khan and the allies Majlis-e-Wahdat-ul-Muslimeen (MWM) and TP with 1 each while Opposition has a strength of 9 members with PPP having 4, PML-N 3, JUI-F 1 members and one Independent. The tenure of GB ends in 2025.

So much so, the contractors in Gilgit-Baltistan have stopped construction work on development projects because their dues of PKR 13 billion have not been paid by the government. The Chief Secretary has stopped issuing notices for new tenders due to the lack of funds. Thousands of workers connected with this sector have become jobless. The high inflation and unemployment are forcing them to starve.

Due to the closure of this sector, many workers from Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are going back to their homes. The business of electrical items, hardware, paints and other items needed for construction work is reduced to half. No one knows how long the present condition will continue because the economic situation of the country is at its worst.

Making the Muhammad Khalid Khurshid Khan government unnerved, the Deputy Secretary of Information for the ML-N Gilgit-Baltistan Mutiullah Baig declared that the provincial government of Khalid Khurshid will end after Eid. But MWM leaders have warned that changing the regime in the federation was an unethical mistake.

The leaders also alleged that the establishment and the federal government have re-launched the banned terror outfits heading the nation toward civil war because Pakistan has defaulted economically. MWM cleared that they will not be a part of any no-trust motion against Chief Minister Khalid Khurshid and their legal team is working on suggestions for the Land Reforms Bill.

(R C Ganjoo is a senior journalist and columnist having more than 30 years experience of covering issues concerning national security, particularly Kashmir. He has worked with several prominent media groups and his articles have been published in many national and international publications.)

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are the personal opinions of the author. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of OneIndia and OneIndia does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.