A political leader from Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan (PoGB) has accused Pakistan’s national media of misrepresenting the region’s 2.2 million residents and undermining their voices. In a video statement shared by Markhor Times, he argued that PoGB’s future should be decided only by its people and local religious scholars, not dictated by outside narratives or media campaigns.
The leader stressed that decisions in Pakistan should be taken by each province independently, adding: “Punjab’s decision will be taken by Punjabis, Sindh’s by Sindhis, Balochistan’s by Baloch, KP’s by Pashtuns, and PoGB’s by the people of PoGB.” He described his stance as the collective voice of the region.
He went on to allege that Pakistani authorities used expired tear gas and even poisonous gas against demonstrators during recent protests. Warning of escalating measures, he declared that all trade routes, ports, and entry-exit points in PoGB would remain closed until local merchants were granted their due rights.
Dismissing media narratives as propaganda, the leader expressed confidence in the success of his movement. Analysts caution that rising frustration in PoGB over autonomy, economic restrictions, and biased coverage could deepen tensions between local leadership and Islamabad unless meaningful dialogue takes place.
Leave a Reply