'Vacate Immediately,' Says India After Attempts By Pakistan To Bring ‘Material Changes’ In PoK

India has lodged a strong protest to Pakistan against the order by the Supreme Court of Pakistan to bring changes in POK regions- Gilgit and Baltistan.

India has lodged a strong protest to Pakistan against the Supreme Court of Pakistan order to bring material changes in Pakistan occupied territories Gilgit and Baltistan (PTI)

New Delhi: India has lodged a strong protest to Pakistan against the Supreme Court of Pakistan order to bring material changes in Pakistan occupied territories Gilgit and Baltistan. According to a report by PTI, the supreme court of Pakistan issued an order allowing the conduct of general elections in Gilgit-Baltistan. The order allowed the amendment to the Government of Gilgit-Baltistan Order of 2018 to conduct general elections in the region. In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said that ‘India demarched senior Pakistan diplomat and lodged a strong protest to Pakistan against Supreme Court of Pakistan order on the so-called 'Gilgit-Baltistan'.

" It was clearly conveyed that the entire Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, including the areas of Gilgit and Baltistan, are an integral part of India by virtue of its fully legal and irrevocable accession. "

-MEA

The statement also clarified that the ‘the Government of Pakistan or its judiciary has no locus standi on territories illegally and forcibly occupied by it. India completely rejects such actions and continued attempts to bring material changes in Pakistan occupied areas of the Indian territory of Jammu & Kashmir. Instead, Pakistan should immediately vacate all areas under its illegal occupation.’ The statement also added that ’It was further conveyed that such actions can neither hide the illegal occupation of parts of Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh by Pakistan nor the grave human rights violations, exploitation and denial of freedom to the people residing in Pakistan occupied territories for the past seven decades.’ The MEA has also stated that the Government of India’s position in the matter is reflected in the resolution passed by the Parliament in 1994 by consensus. Also Watch: Trump says, 'Covid could take up to 1 lakh lives in US'