Gilgit-Baltistan elections

[SSGPA1]

I didn't get your comments about IK.

Se IK has the same voting bank as NS and by not contesting the 2008 elections he indirectly support OML-N. Now there is a n impression building up that IK will support NS and he is following NS' line.

This is teh impression IK's now trying to get away from and he recently gave the following statement:

Imran urges Nawaz to end double policy

ONLINE - International News Network

Gilgit-Baltistan has a lot of potential in tourism and hydro power, if properly done we don't even need outside investment or bank loans.

 

[Absar]

Se IK has the same voting bank as NS and by not contesting the 2008 elections he indirectly support OML-N. Now there is a n impression building up that IK will support NS and he is following NS' line.

This is teh impression IK's now trying to get away from and he recently gave the following statement:

Imran urges Nawaz to end double policy

ONLINE - International News Network

Gilgit-Baltistan has a lot of potential in tourism and hydro power, if properly done we don't even need outside investment or bank loans.

But I don't think Imran Khan's vote bank is more or less equal to that of NS. NS vote bank is significantly high. I can't give you much of the pragmatic reasons in regards. PTI should have contested from GB, I believe. It's sort of neutral zone at this point in time since elections are going to happen for the first time there. Abilities of Imran Khan would have become known to others had he contested the elections.

I agree to the last part. Pakistan can generate a lot of revenue form those parts, even from Swat too after successful military operation there. But sad part is that these things can only be acheived if Government really wishes to achieve it. Government didn't take care of Swat much in the past -- in regards with Tourism too. Even when the insurgency wasn't started there, it was ignored to a considerable extent.

Let's see how things shape up.

 

[SSGPA1]

But I don't think Imran Khan's vote bank is more or less equal to that of NS. NS vote bank is significantly high. I can't give you much of the pragmatic reasons in regards. PTI should have contested from GB, I believe. It's sort of neutral zone at this point in time since elections are going to happen for the first time there. Abilities of Imran Khan would have become known to others had he contested the elections.

I agree to the last part. Pakistan can generate a lot of revenue form those parts, even from Swat too after successful military operation there. But sad part is that these things can only be acheived if Government really wishes to achieve it. Government didn't take care of Swat much in the past -- in regards with Tourism too. Even when the insurgency wasn't started there, it was ignored to a considerable extent.

Let's see how things shape up.

Yep lets see how this election shapes up. I have a feeling that MQM, ANP, PML-Q and PPPP will form govt. and even though I am not a supporter of MQM, I believe things will improve in that area because MQM has done good work in Karachi and they are trying to become a main stream party.

 

[EjazR]

DAWN.COM | Pakistan | Gilgit-Baltistan on high as voters go to polls today

ISLAMABAD: The people of Gilgit-Baltistan will go to the polls on Thursday to elect a new legislative assembly that will enjoy more powers under political reforms introduced by the government recently to accord the region more autonomy.

More than 250 candidates are in the running for 23 seats. The winners will elect members for nine reserved seats — six for women and three for technocrats.

Polling in one constituency of Ghizer district was put off after the death of a candidate.

All major parties of the country have fielded their candidates.

Visits by top leaders like Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, Mian Nawaz Sharif, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Mian Iftikhar Hussain, Shahbaz Sharif and Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan have electrified the dormant political scene of the region.

Entry of new players in the fray has broken the grip of two-party politics and is giving a tough time to traditional politicians.

However, independent observers see the Pakistan People’s Party as better placed to win, though not with a big margin.

Although there are eight political, nationalist and ethnic parties in the fray, only the PPP, PML-N, PML-Q and MQM are likely to make significant pickings.

The Pakistan People’s Party has fielded 23 candidates, Muttahida Qaumi Movement 19, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, 15, PML-Q 14 and Awami National Party three. The Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (Fazl), Balawaristan National Front, Jamaat-i-Islami and Tehrik-i-Insaaf have fielded two candidates each.

The Gilgit-Baltistan Democratic Alliance, which comprises four nationalist groups, has boycotted the polls in four constituencies in protest against what it calls a pre-poll rigging plan and harassment of candidates. It will now contest six seats.

The regional election commission has set up 989 polling stations for 714,966 voters, including 330,391 women.

Most of the candidates are old guns who have been in and out of politics over the past three decades.

However, a few new and young faces have been fielded by some parties.

None of them has a programme for the well-being of the neglected region. The PPP has been employing various tactics to win the polls. The prime minister and some federal ministers have visited the region and made announcements which the party’s opponents consider as part of pre-poll rigging.

The ruling party, despite a leadership crisis, is still in a better position, but it has failed to nurture and groom its young cadre. ‘The stagnant structure of the PPP in the region has stunted the growth of its vote bank,’ says Aziz Ali Dad, a young social activist.

Nevertheless the people of Gilgit-Baltistan still idolise the party’s founder, former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, as he was the first Pakistani leader to address the misery of the poor in the region, especially of Hunza-Nagar, by liberating them from the despotic rule of the two former princely states.

It was his party that gave them the right to franchise.

Religious parties have witnessed a sharp decline in their support and vote bank after dominating the political scene in the 1990s. However, they have a strong influence in Gilgit city and adjoining areas.

‘Another factor that influences election outcomes is kinship-based politics which is stronger in some constituencies of Gilgit and Diamer districts, while Baltistan is racially, religiously and linguistically homogenous to a great extent.

Therefore, its electoral dynamics, to some extent, is at variance with other regions,’ says Aziz Ali Dad.

But a new powerful entrepreneur class which has benefited from border trade and commerce on the Karakoram Highway, tourism, timber trade, contracts and transportation will play a pivotal role as a sizable number of its members are in the field.

The MQM has entered the political arena of Gilgit-Baltistan for the first time.

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

I am personally really interested in seeing how the MQM will fare.

The MQM leadership has been trying very hard to position the party as a national party and move away from its identification with one particular ethnic group, and has won plaudits for its position on the NRO recently. It probably is the only true middle class based political party in Pakistan, and has done a tremendous amount in developing Karachi.

For all the other ills associated with it, I would love to see it get a decent number of seats and break into the two party system of the PPP-PML in the hands of feudals.

 

[SSGPA1]

With GBDA contetsing on 6 seats the number of candidates from each party will chnage as follows:

PPPP: 23
MQM: 19
PML-N: 14
PML-Q: 14
JUI: 6
JI: 3
GBDA: 6
ANP: 4
TIP: 2
BNF: 2
INDEPENDENT: 166

24 seats of Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly.

I will not change my forecast even though GBDA is contesting on 6 seats now:

IMHO, my forecast of the outcome:

PPPP: 7
MQM: 4
PML-N: 5
PML-Q: 1
GBDA: 2
JUI: 1
ANP: 1
IND: 3

 

[Absar]

Yep lets see how this election shapes up. I have a feeling that MQM, ANP, PML-Q and PPPP will form govt. and even though I am not a supporter of MQM, I believe things will improve in that area because MQM has done good work in Karachi and they are trying to become a main stream party.

Well, with regards to all political parties -- I personally don't like our political system. It needs a literal revival.

And talking about MQM, well, the most worst political party it could ever be in Pakistan, worst even more than Zardari-led PPP or Nawaz-led PML. It's the worst ethnic party. The development in Karachi shouldn't be a reason to hide the real mode of working of MQM. I never understand their 'middle-class' concept and the eradication of feudalism -- a good way to dupe citizens is to play demagoguery politics. That's what MQM is perfect in -- fake demagoguery i.e. 'Muhajir' card to increase the vote bank.

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

That's what MQM is perfect in -- fake demagoguery i.e. 'Muhajir' card to increase the vote bank.

How will they play the Muhajir card in G-B, or for that matter in Punjab?

They started off as a party based on ethnic identity, but they have also made a good effort at moving away from that identity based politics by changing the name of the party, fielding candidates in other provinces, reorganizing the party various times in other provinces to improve their chances.

And they have done excellent development work in Karachi, there is no question about that. Remember that the party will field candidates belonging to whichever province it contests in, so how can one still argue that it is 'ethnicity based'?

 

[kidwaibhai]

i really think that the MQM is slowly becoming a national party. if i were going to vote i would definitely vote for the MQM. i also dont think that they are as corrupt as other political parties.

 

[Omar1984]

 

[Absar]

How will they play the Muhajir card in G-B, or for that matter in Punjab?

They started off as a party based on ethnic identity, but they have also made a good effort at moving away from that identity based politics by changing the name of the party, fielding candidates in other provinces, reorganizing the party various times in other provinces to improve their chances.

And they have done excellent development work in Karachi, there is no question about that. Remember that the party will field candidates belonging to whichever province it contests in, so how can one still argue that it is 'ethnicity based'?

It still stands as an ethnic party so far, by and large. Let's put aside GB since it's a neutral zone with elections for legislative assembly happening first time. All ethnic parties are contesting, you can read that in DAWN too, the above link.

If we talk in terms with Punjab, how about it? I've this for you, a good analysis: The road to Punjab -- DAWN.COM | Provinces | The road to Punjab

MQM started its political career in Pakistan's political arena with an ethnic identity, and still stands the same. The fact that the first ‘M’ in MQM now stands for ‘Muttahida’ instead of ‘Mohajir’ hasn’t changed its image in Sindh, nor will it do so in Punjab. As a first step towards that change the party will have to have a new name signifying a national character.

And I've already said, no matter how much MQM would try to hide their embarrassing blunders under the shade of developmental work in Karachi, it can't conceal the blemishes of its worst ethnic rioting and even today's perpetuating demagoguery politics.

Developmental work is directly proportional to the amount of funds the City Government receives. Musharraf bankrolled MQM to a considerable extent and surpassing majority of Pakistanis are aware of the fact that how Musharraf was able to generate this much funds for the country.

Besides, Mustafa Kamal actually exceeded quite a number of major projects left by ex-Nazim Naimatullah -- and I'm baffled that we've 's badly him. By no means I'm associated with JI -- if you think I'm endorsing them for this reason. All I intend to say is, MQM's popularity is hyped a lot unnecessarily, while I've never heard of any present City Nazim (of any city) or ex-Nazim's work is so much cheered.

ANP is ethnic based party contesting GB, PML-N too to a good extent. Only PPP could be called as a National party.

I'm apolitical. Views reflected here doesn't represent the cause of any party.

 

[Omar1984]

 

[SSGPA1]

Polling completed in Gilgit-Baltistan election

ISLAMABAD: Polling for 23 legislative seats in the Gilgit-Baltistan province got underway at 8:00 am on Thursday and was wrapped up by 4:00 pm.

The locals of the newly-formed province went to polling stations throughout the day and the first votes were cast at around 9:00am.

A total number of 256 candidates were vying for the 23 legislative assembly seats after weeks of campaigning.

The total number of registered voters in the province is over 700,000 and votes were cast in nearly 1000 polling stations.

Chief Election Commissioner for Baltistan Rahim Nawaz Durrani earlier said that the polls were expected to be trouble-free as all arrangements had been completed well in time.

Ten political parties including the PPP, PML-N , PML-Q , MQM , JUI-F , JI , ANP , PTI and the Gilgit-Baltistan Democratic Alliance were fielding 91 candidates. Additionally, 165 independent candidates were also contesting.

DAWN.COM | Pakistan | Polling completed in Gilgit-Baltistan election

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Phase I ELECTIONS: completed.

Phase II CLAIMING MAJORITY: That is WIP by all parties

Phase III CLAIMS OF RIGGING: It will happen as soon as we have the real losers and they will prove themselves just that by rigging claims.

 

[SSGPA1]

It still stands as an ethnic party so far, by and large. Let's put aside GB since it's a neutral zone with elections for legislative assembly happening first time. All ethnic parties are contesting, you can read that in DAWN too, the above link.

I am no supporter of MQM either but I have always believed in giving credit where due. Till this day MQM carries the tag of an ethnic party and rightly so but give them credit for breaking away from that tag and trying to enter the national fold.

We need more options besides both PML and PPPP. My main disappointment is from PTI, tis is another golden opportunity that they have lost.

 

[SSGPA1]

Gilgit-Baltistan: an overview

Gilgit is the capital city of the Gilgit-Baltistan. Its ancient name was Sargin, later to be known as Gilit, and it is still called Gilit or Sargin-Gilit by local people. Gilgit has an area of 38,000 square kilometres.

Gilgit-Baltistan consists of six districts.

Gilgit district

The district is bounded by the Wakhan Corridor of (Afghanistan) in the north, Xinjiang (China) in the north and northeast, Skardu district in the south and southeast. The capital of the district is Gilgit town.

Skardu district

The capital of the district is Skardu town. Skardu was part of Ladakh before the partition of Kashmir in 1948.

Ghanche district

The capital of the district is Khaplu. This is the coldest place within Pakistan also called the "Third Pole" with temperatures reaching below -20 °C in the winter.

Ghizar district

The district is bounded by the NWFP on three sides (north, west, and south), by Diamer district in the south and southeast, and by Gilgit district in the east. A small strip of the district is sandwiched between the NWFP and the Wakhan Corridor of (Afghanistan). The capital of the district is Gahkuch.

Diamir district

The district is where the Karakoram Highway enters Gilgit-Baltistan from the NWFP. The capital of the district is Chilas. The district is bounded by Astore district in the east, the NWFP in the south, Ghizar district in the north and northwest, and Gilgit district in the north.

Astore district

The Astore district was carved out of Diamer district in 2004. The capital of the district is Gorikot. The district is bounded by the Diamir district in the west and the Skardu District in the east.

Parks

Khunjerab National Park

It is one of the highest altitude parks in the world and provides the habitat for a number of endangered and threatened species such as snow leopard, Marco Polo sheep, blue sheep and Himalayan ibex. With the establishment of the park and laying down strict rules for the locals as well as the hunters, visitors can view plenty of wildlife from the main Karakoram Highway. Ibex can easily be seen grazing on distant ridges, golden marmots play alongside the road and sometimes even a brown bear can be spotted.

Deosai National Park

It is located in Skardu. The park is located on the Deosai Plains, that are among the highest plateaus in the world with an average height of 4,114 metres above the sea level, covering an area of about 3,000 square kilometers. For just over half the year - between November and May – Deosai is snow-bound. In the summer months when the snow clears up, Deosai is accessible from Skardu in the north and Astore Valley in the west. Deosai is well known for its spring season when it is covered by a carpet of millions of flowers and a wide variety of butterflies.

Languages

Urdu is the lingua franca of the region, understood by most male inhabitants. The Shina language (with several dialects) is the language of 40% of the population, spoken mainly in Gilgit, throughout Diamer, and in some parts of Ghizer. The Balti dialect, a sub-dialect of Ladakhi and part of Tibetan language group, is spoken by the entire population of Baltistan. Minor languages spoken in the region include Wakhi, spoken in upper Hunza, and in some villages in Ghizer, while Khowar is the major language of Ghizer. Burushaski is an isolated language spoken in Hunza, Nagar, Yasin (where Khowar is also spoken), in some parts of Gilgit and in some villages of Punial. Another interesting language is Domaaki, spoken by the musician clans in the region. A small minority of people also speak Pashto.

Population

At the last census (1998), the population of Gilgit-Baltistan was 870,347. Approximately 14 percent of the population was urban. The main ethnic groups are Baltis, Yashkuns, Mughals, Kashmiris, Ladakhis, Tajik, Mongol, Turkmen and population of Greek origin.

Peaks

Many of the highest peaks in Gilgit-Baltistan, such as Baltoro Muztagh, K2 (Mount Godwin-Austen) (8,611 m), the second-highest mountain in the world), the Gasherbrums (7,932 - 8,080 meters, ranked 12-17 in the world), and Masherbrum (7,821 m), 22nd highest in the world), lie in the Skardu District.

Other high peaks are Distaghil Sar (7,885 meters, 19th-highest in the world), Kunyang Chhish (7,852 meters, 21st-highest in the world), Batura Sar (7,795 m), 25th highest in the world), Kanjut Sar (7,790 m), 26th highest in the world), and Rakaposhi (7,788 m), 27th highest in the world.

Sports

Polo

The favourite sport in Gilgit is polo which local folks claim originated here. It’s more rugged, free-style version than the sedate variety known in the plains. The polo tournament held from November 1 to 7 is a festive occasion and draws a large number of visitors.

Angling

The streams and lakes of Gilgit are full of trout. These are at Kargah Nullah 10 Kms from Gilgit, and Phandar Valley 117 Kms from Gilgit. Permits for fishing are issued by the assistant director, Fisheries Department, Gilgit.

Trekking and hiking

Trekking and hiking in the rugged mountains and verdant valleys of Gilgit are allowed only in the "open zone" which extends up to 16 Kms short of the control line on the Kashmir border and up to 50 Kms short of the Afghan border.

Mountaineering

Gilgit city is one of the two major hubs on the Northern Areas for all mountaineering expeditions of Karakoram to the peaks of the Himalayas, the other hub being Skardu. Around Gilgit are towering mountain peaks, waiting to be scaled. Permits for mountaineering are issued by the Tourism Ministry, Islamabad.

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan

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A short and good analysis