SKARDU: The local leaders of political parties have alleged the regional government is working on a proposal to `deprive` Baltistan and Astore districts of constitutional rights by declaring them as disputed. Political and religious parties and civil society activists of Baltistan would strongly resist such moves, they vowed, while addressing a press conference here the other day.

Representatives of Islami Tehreek, PPP, PTI, APML, PML-Q, Baltistan District Bar Association, Anjuman-i-Noorbakhshia Baltistan, Anjuman-iImamia, and Majlis-i-Wahdat-ulMuslimeen (MWM) spoke on the occasion.

They said despite strong opposition by the people of Baltistan and Astore, the GB government had not shunned the proposal.

They said the people of Baltistan had voluntarily annexed to Pakistan after independence and that their sacrifices should be respected. They said GBLA Speaker Fida Mohammad Nashad, Senior Minister Akbar Taban, and GBLA member Maj (r) Mohammad Amin had also issued statements opposing any `division` of GB. On the occasion, Agha Ali Rizvi of MWM alleged Chief Minister Hafiz Hafizur Rehman was not sincere with the People of Baltistan.

`Gilgit and Baltistan is a unit and any bid to divide it will be foiled,` he warned.

Wazir Willayat Ali of PML-Q alleged the federal government is `favouring` those people who had allegedly set the Pakistan flag on fire. He complained that people of Baltistan were being `punished` for their `loyalty` with Pakistan.

Baltistan District Bar Association president Akhond Mohammad Ali said the proposal would `distort` the SelfEmpowerment Order of 2009.

Abbas Parvi of PPP said the federal government`s measures were `harming` the interests of GB people.