Page 24 - Seniors Today - Oct 2019
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Shigar valley in Skardu. A telegraph line connected Dras with Skardu in 1881
name of Pakistan Federal Ministry of Kashmir by Pakistan where restrictions on outsiders
Affairs was changed into Federal Ministry of purchasing landed property or securing a
Kashmir Affairs and Northern Areas. To start government job have been removed. In 1947-48
with the territory was put under control of and the Shia population in this region was nearly
was administered by the Political Agent. Later 90%; it is now reduced to a little under 55%.
he was designated as Resident Agent. And still Dissidents within the Northern Areas and
later, it was changed to Resident Commissioner. Opposition in POK have alleged frequently that
Finally it was decided by Pakistan Federal the Administration has instigated Shia-Sunni
Government to change it to Administrator. riots whenever the opposition has raised its
Since early 1970s the Pakistan Federal head. There were riots earlier in 1989-90 but
Government has tried to suppress people’s they did not get publicity. Since the Kargil war
movement for fundamental rights on one hand, of 1999 these have been noticed even outside
and demand for democratic institutions on Pakistan because opposition groups in POK and
the other. A majority of its population of over Northern Areas have become more bold and
19 lakh profess the Shia faith. The Federal articulate.
Government being unhappy with the majority The latest issue that is agitating the local
sect, has made subtle and not-so-subttle efforts Dards, Baltis and Hanzikuts, is one concerning
to reduce them into a minority by allowing construction of series of five big dams on River
Sunnis from the Army and other provinces to Indus. All these dams are clubbed under the
be settled in the Northern Areas. To change the common name of Basha Dam. And Basha is
demography of the region as a matter of policy, a village which is part of Pakistani province
the Administration has encouraged Pashtuns of NWFP – not of Northern Areas. The dams
to settle there. According to Balti nationalists, were planned some 15 years ago. The then
over one lakh have already been settled. This PM of POK, Sardar Abdul Gayoom Khan had
is the only area out of the occupied territories demanded in May 1993 that waters of rivers
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