National Archives of India The Lotus Sutra was discovered in 1931
A rare Buddhist manuscript, discovered by cattle grazers in 1931, has been released in book form in India.
The Lotus Sutra was found in Gilgit region, now in Pakistan.

Under the United Nations (UN) charter and the available explanations around the world, presence of a specific population, a defined geographical territory, culture, traditions and a distinct historical identity are considered necessary for making a nation. On the basis of almost this definition, nations around the world have their existence today. But it is also becoming a reality that powerful nations around the world are becoming hostile to the reality or openly denying this very principle to accept the existence of some nations. There are also some countries who have kept a number of nations in their peripheries hostage to their own will, just to plunder their resources and keep them subjugated. When we look around the world, this fact also becomes clear in the case of Gilgit-Baltistan, which, despite possessing all the characteristics of a nation, has not been given its identity for the last over six decades. It is also a fact that Gilgit-Baltistan is considered as the last colony of the 21st century.

On April 14, 2012, hundreds of Shias from all over the United States gathered in front of the Embassy of Pakistan to protest Shia and minority killings in the country. Members and supporters of Gilgit Baltistan National Congress also joined the protesters.

Presence of Malika Baltistani, the chairperson of Gilgit-Baltistan National Alliance, was a shot in the arm for the members of GBNC. She delivered an inspiring speech about the rights of the people of Gilgit-Baltistan and condemned Pakistani government for patronizing the terrorists. She lamented that even though Gilgit-Baltistan provides water, minerals and a safe route for Pakistan to China; yet, the native Shias are treated like captives. She said that Pakistan is pursuing the age-old Umayyad and Abbasid policy of Shia persecution. She said, “We are rebels and not traitors and Pakistani policies of alienation are responsible for this.”

Under FCR  Pakistani imposed Political Agent was to be the head of Administration and Judiciary and all Rajas of Gilgit Baltistan were acting under his command. Appeal cannot be made against his decisions. Political activities were not known. At that time  Adv. Johar Ali from Gilgit, Fazlur Rehman Alamgir of Punyal, Adv. Sher Wali of Punyal, SSP Amir Hamza from Astore, Judge Mustafa from Gilgit, Judge Khursheed from Astore, Engineer Mohammad Ali from Astore, , Wazir Shah Faqir from Ishhqamen, Latif Hassan ex Chairman District Council Gilgit, Mohammad Issa from Minor, Adv. Mohammad Essa from Astore and Judge Altaf Hussain from Gilgit launched a campaign for the political rights and abolition of FCR. As a result, all were sent to Gilgit Jail. On this, people irrespective of their faith broke Jail and released the prisoners.

Mr. Ban ki Moon

Secretary General

United Nations

New York

Send UN Forces to Stop Genocide of the indigenous people of Gilgit Baltistan

Government of Pakistan is systematically involved in the genocide of the indigenous people of Gilgit Baltistan.

The  Kohistan district of Khyber Pukhtonkhowa of Pakistan carnage of 28th February 2012, where Army uniformed terrorists killed 18 innocent Shia passengers by identifying them as Shia by checking their Identity Cards issued by Pakistan. After this carnage, Pakistani officials and media blamed USA, India and me and our nationalist parties in spite of taking action against the terrorists. It should be noted, that Pakistan Army has never contradicted this killing, where terrorists had used its uniform.  After few days Pakistan government blamed the people of Darel and Gilgit for Kohistan killing by changing its previous stand, but a single terrorist has not been detained so far. On 3rd April 2012, Pakistani occupation regime allowed the Sooni religious group to protest against the detention of its leader. But during their peaceful protest Grenade was thrown on them, which claimed 6 lives  in Gilgit in the presence of Pakistani law enforcement agencies (which was supposed to protect them) .

After grenade attack in Gilgit on Sooni protestors, a government managed systematic  violence showing retaliation, where more than 3000 terrorists stopped several buses on the Karakoram Highway at Gonarfaram Police Station near Chilas, pulled out  Shias and gunned them down, in the presence of the Police.  Free hand given to the terrorists by Pakistani Authorities clearly indicates the evil design of the government of Pakistan and its agencies.

After all these terrorist acts, Pakistani forces increased their presence by sending 3 more Army Units in uniform and thousand in civilian clothes by imposing curfew, so the indigenous people and media are not aware of that newly Military deployment. The curfew imposed by Pakistan Army on 3rd April and continued till today for more than 9 days in Gilgit city without any relaxation.  During this curfew the innocent people of Gilgit including children, women and serious ill patients are being punished by illegal detention, torture and many have been killed intentionally by not allowing the food and medicines. Sources claimed that dozens of decomposed bodies had been recovered from various parts of the Gilgit Baltistan, it’s not clear whether they have been killed by Pakistani forces during curfew or by terrorists.

This should be noted, that there is no sectarian clashes among the people, where as in Kohistan and Gonarfarm carnage some local people helped the victims and gave protection and  safe passage to the opposite Shia sect, while in Nagir the Shia people who took dozens Sooni people under their protection, gave safety and security and handed them over to Police. In all these killings, the government agencies either remained spectators or even helped the terrorists. Rehman Malik the Interior Minister of Pakistan himself said the present killing spree  is not sectarian, there is hidden hand and he would name it during close camera session.

Meanwhile the terrorists who committed genocide in Kohistan, Chilas and Gilgit have never been touched and they are encouraged to repeat such crime without fear in the future. This seems the intention of Pakistan, that Gilgit Baltistan, which is disputed part of Jammu & Kashmir as per UNCIP resolution to handover to China, due to the apathy of UN and UNSC, which has failed to protect the people and their rights under its resolutions.

It’s the duty of UN and UNSC to protect the life, belief, dignity, property and geographical boundaries of this disputed land under UNCIP resolutions of  13th August 1948, 5th January 1949 and 28th April 1949.   

I on behalf of the 2 million indigenous people of this region appeal the UN and UNSC to send its forces to Gilgit Baltistan, so the systematic genocide of the indigenous people is stopped.

Abdul Hamid Khan
Chairman
Balawaristan National Front (BNF)
Head Office: Majini Mahla, Gilgit, Balawaristan (Pakistan & China Occupied Gilgit Baltistan)
Website: www.balawaristan.net
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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SKARDU: The chairman of the Gilgit-Baltistan United Movement (GBUM), Manzoor Hussain Parwana has said the government of Gilgit-Baltistan has utterly failed to protect the life and property of the masses and has no moral and legal justification to stick to power anymore.

By Shujat Hussain Mesam of Gilgit-Baltistan.
The phone lines are down and wireless connections are jammed since last three days. It is very difficult to get the right information about how many people have died in recent target killing incident in Gilgit-Baltistan. Some put the numbers as high as 80. However, there are people who have received information from eye witnesses about the massacre of Shias in Chilas. One person is Shujat Hussain Mesam who has recorded statements of three witnesses who were riding the buses which were attacked in Chilas. The passengers were interviewed by Hussain’s father, who is a retired government employee. One eyewitness, Aslam, is a 30 year old male who said that about three thousand (3,000) fully armed assailants intercepted a convoy of 25 buses. They pulled all the passengers down. After confiscating the luggage, the buses were then set on fire. Aslam claims that it was all pre-planned and even the police and administration were either helping the assailants directly or turned a blind eye throughout the entire episode of bloodshed and mayhem. The assailants had set up a makeshift tent to host those who were going to be released later. The male Shia passengers were then lined up. The gunmen checked their ID cards and shot and killed many on the spot. Many bodies were riddled with bullets. Those who ran for life were then attacked by the mob with stones and bricks and killed them in that manner. The assailants pelting stones were laughing and high fiving each other upon hitting the target. Aslam stated that many Shias were also taken hostage and may be still alive. He estimated the death toll at no less than sixty (60), while at least another sixty (60) went missing. Aslam insisted that he was not carrying an ID card and remained associated with a Sunni family as the kind hearted elderly male guardian claimed him to be his son. Those males suspected as non-Shias were then sent to the tent along with females and the children. Later, they were sent to the house of Haji Abdul Aziz, where they were offered refreshment. At some point, the police arrived at Haji’s house and escorted the passengers to the few remaining buses which then took them to Gilgit.


Another survivor, Zakir – a 22 year old Shia male, said that his bus was first to arrive at Buner farm, where the assailants had gathered. He claimed to be a student without an ID card upon which the assailants hurled him towards a government building along with two old ladies and three girls. There, he was able to call his family members and also contacted an influential government official in Chilas, who was later instrumental in saving his life. The official sent his police guards who escorted Zakir away. After spending the night at the officer’s residence, he was then sent to Gilgit in a helicopter with the dead bodies. From there, he reached his hometown Skardo. Zakir said that the man sitting next to him in the bus showed his ID card to the assailants and was subsequently killed.

Ilyas is the third survivor and eyewitness who was assisting some ladies from Khapulo during the bus journey. As the attackers approached him, one of the ladies claimed him to be his son and a Noorbakhshi by faith from Khapulo. This way, Ilyas was able to save his life with the help of that kind and brave lady.Once the assailants were done with the passengers at Buner farm, they then marched towards Gilgit. The military personnel stopped the mob at Juglote and refused further advance. Juglote is only 40 kilometers from Gilgit city. At the same time, Shias of Nagar retaliated by taking 19 Sunnis hostage. Further, thousands of men of Nagar valley marched towards Gilgit and Chilas to protect and avenge the death of innocent Shias. They were stopped by military personnel at Danyor from where they could not march any further.



Despite curfew, exchange of heavy gun fire continues in Gilgit city. Many people have got injured as well as died of gun shots but exact numbers are not known. In absence of proper rescue and first aid facilities, and imposition of curfew, the number of deaths could increase. The main hospital has run short of medicine while residents have no access to food supplies. Life has come to a complete halt in Gilgit city yet government opts to act as bystanders. In the absence of justice and good governance, the people have no hope from Pakistani administration.

People are sleepless, restless and helpless. The mothers, sisters and daughters have shed all the tears they had. The children cannot sleep due to nightmares. But the bloody coffins continue to arrive with each passing day. The aged fathers have no strength in their shoulders to carry all those coffins to the graves. The government has shown its real face as the supporter of terrorists and extremists. The politicians are also selfish who have sold the interest of their nation for political favors. The Shia massacre has exposed the two nation theory. The people of Gilgit-Baltistan must rise and unite before it is too late.

When the police constable stopped a Skardo bound bus at the Shangla check post and asked for the identity cards, it made many passengers turn pale with fear. Without wasting any time, many ducked their heads behind the backrest while others pretended to fall asleep. Some even dropped their ID cards under their seats. It was only after the constable checked few of the ID cards and got off the bus that the passengers felt like a heavy weight was lifted off their chests.

At first sight, it might not seem a normal reaction to many except to those who have read about the unfortunate incident of February 28, when several armed men in military uniforms pulled 18 Shias out of four Gilgit bound buses and shot and killed them in front of their loved ones. The incident occurred in the broad daylight and very close to the two check posts located in Kohistan district. Yet, the vehicles carrying more than 20 assailants were able to disappear from the crime scene without any trace.

Hundreds of thousands of angry people have gathered in Skardu and Kharmang valleys where the slogans of long march to Kargil are echoing in the air. The protesters are shouting against the regime and the military for failing to maintain law and order in Gilgit Baltistan. They are demanding arrest of the murderers of 18 Shias of Gilgit-Baltistan who were recently shot and killed in Kohistan. All the victims were part of the religious tour-group, returning from Iran, and were traveling in a bus on the Karakoram Highway (KKH), which connects Gilgit Baltistan with Pakistan.

The natives of Gilgit-Baltistan residing in the UnitedStates held a demonstration outside the United Nations building in New YorkCity on March 16, demanding end to atrocities against the Shias of Gilgit-Baltistan.Gilgit-Baltistan is a UN declared disputed area under Pakistani control.

Present among the protestors were members of GilgitBaltistan National Congress including the president, Imtiaz Hussain, and director,Muhammad Sabir, who urged the United Nations to provide security for the Shias,Ismailis and Nurbakhshis of Gilgit-Baltistan who face religious oppression. Theprotestors urged the United Nations to play its due role in restoring genuineautonomy in Gilgit-Baltistan since Pakistan lacks constitutional capacity toensure fundamental rights and protection to the natives of the region. Theprotestors also demanded protection to local languages and cultural identities.

We welcome if and when the actual culprits are  identified in front of the eye witnesses and  punished. But the pre-determination about the killers by Rehman Malik creates doubt. BNF ask Rehman Malik and Government of Pakistan to clear their position on the highly propagated so-called empowerment package. Why government of Pakistan does not want to give any legislative powers to this so-called Legislative Assembly of Gilgit Baltistan and why Rehman Malik has taken the land allotment powers in his hands instead of this so-called Assembly if it was legislative in real meaning.

GENEVA: Exiled Balochs have stepped up their movement at the international level with a highly visible and vocal presence this year at the 19th Session of UN Human Rights Council.

Pakistani lobbyists, Kashmiri and Gilgiti groups - both for and against Pakistan - are also active organising briefings and meetings, including interventions at the main UN debate on human rights issues, but the Baloch delegates are receiving the most attention from NGOs and delegates from various parts of the world.

UNITED NATIONS -A group of United Nations human rights experts Friday urged the Government of Pakistan to take decisive measures to end sectarian violence and protect religious minorities after a second incident of targeted killings in two weeks.

Ensure rule of law, democracy, elimination of terrorism, and equal treatment of all ethnic, linguistic and religious groups of Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan to promote peace

A conference titled “India Pakistan Peace Process: The Way Forward” was organized in the Grand Committee Room of the The Houses of Parliament, London on February 28, 2012. The event was sponsored by MP Simon Danczuk and Institute for Gilgit Baltistan Studies in collaboration with International Pahari Literary Society and International Center for Peace and Democracy.

The situation in Gilgit Baltistan is deteriorated, when about 20 Pakistani Army uniform terrorist killed 19 innocent people in Harban Kohistan Diamar border on 28^thFeb. 2012 after carefully checking their ID Cards issued by Pakistan.

These ID Cards issued by government of Pakistan do not give us rights but death. This is Z.A. Bhutto's gift started in 1971 to divide the people on Shia Sooni line, when the pople had broken Jail to free their leaders. I think both PPP government and Military is involved , so the people are not united. Three main reasons for PPP to divide the people,

Gilgit Baltistan: Bus attacked a conspiracy to defused unity of people.

Manzoor Parwana Chairman Gilgit Baltistan United Movement strongly condemned the cowardice cold blood and criticised the Pakistani government for failing to provide security to the passengers of Gilgit Baltistan at Karakuram Highway.

RAWALPINDI:- Vice President Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Court Bar Association and member Human Right Commission of Pakistan  Wazir Farman Ali advocate has strongly condemned the act of the authorities to put the name of housewife on the ECL, which is serious violation of the basic fundamental rights.
While talking to media persons, he said that concern authorities has put the name of wife of  Abdul Hameed Cahirman Baloristan National Front (BNF) on the ECL, which is highly regrettable as on one hand the Government of Pakistan claimed that full rights were provided to women and necessary steps are being taken for their empowerment and on the other hand they denied the basic rights to housewife of a political worker. Wazir said that the wife of any person could not be penalized for the acts of their husbands for which they are not concerned, the curtailment of her right of free movement is discriminatory one as every citizen has the right free movement, he added.
He said under the Islamic law as well as the law of the land that a housewife has every right to spend her life with her spouse, but in the instant case, a housewife has been denied her legal and Islamic rights, which is un constitutional and un-Islamic and illegal. He urged to the Interior Ministry and Government of Pakistan to remove the name of wife of the BNF Chairman and to give her the right of free movement.

ISLAMABAD. Vice President Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Court Bar Association Wazir Farman Ali Advocate has urged to the Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Choudary to take the judicial notice of the matter pertaining to the un-constitutional and illegal appointment of a former Ad hoc Judge of Lahore High Court Rana Muhammad Arshad as Chief Judge of Gilgit-Baltistan Supreme Appellate Court by ignoring the sitting senior judges of the Supreme Appellate Court. The status of the Supreme Appellate Court is equal to the Supreme Court of Pakistan, but the appointments of the Chief Judge and judges are not being made according to the procedure of the Constitution of Pakistan, he maintained.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had stopped Balawaristan National Front (BNF) chief, Abdul Hamid’s wife Zaibul Nigar at Benazir Bhutto International Airport last week when she was about to leave for Bangkok. She was later informed that her name had been put on the Exit Control List (ECL).

Nationalist parties and human rights activists in Gilgit-Baltistan have reacted over the government’s move to bar the wife of nationalist leader Abdul Hamid from travelling abroad putting her name on the Exit Control List (ECL).
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) last week bared Ms Zaibul Nigar, wife of chief of Balawaristan National Front (BNF) Abdul Hamid Khan at the Benazir Bhutto International Airport Islamabad from
leaving abroad and told her to go back on the ground that her name has been put on the ECL due to the activities of her spouse. She was leaving for Bangkok along with his brother on a private tour.