Title: Gilgit Baltistan: identity crisis and a constitutional limbo

Authors: Sajid Ali

Addresses: University Law College, University of the Punjab, Quaid-e-Azam Campus, Lahore, 54590, Pakistan

Abstract: Gilgit Baltistan enjoys immense geostrategic, geopolitical and economical importance and therefore is of international significance. The people Gilgit Baltistan claimed independence from the Dogras defeating its forces. Since their independence on 1st November 1947, the region had been under a state of continuous constitutional limbo due to its linkage with Kashmir issue in wake of notorious Karachi agreement between Pakistan and Azad Kashmir Government. The opinion pertaining to legal and constitutional rights is divided among the stakeholders, posing a grievous threat to constitutional abuse and human right violations. Several Constitutional developments had taken place since its inception. The people of Gilgit Baltistan have started asserting themselves as the stakeholders in the political arena and social space. With diverse viewpoints, the matter of full constitutional rights is both politically and legally challenging. This paper strives to discuss legal and constitutional developments post-independence and the ways for final resolution of the matter.

Keywords: Gilgit Baltistan; constitutional rights; legal rights; constitutional status; geo-economic importance; geo-strategic importance; constitutional developments; political opinion.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHRCS.2022.123695

International Journal of Human Rights and Constitutional Studies, 2022 Vol.9 No.3, pp.294 - 306

Received: 29 Sep 2021
Accepted: 21 Oct 2021
Published online: 30 Jun 2022 *

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