The Balwaristan National Front (BNF) put forth a three-fold demand for self-rule in the Gilgit Baltistan region1. Reports noted that the BNF demanded the dissolution of the Legislative Assembly of Northern Areas and the election of a Constituent Assembly to frame a Constitution for the region2. In a related development, the Gilgit Baltistan Democratic Alliance organized a public meeting in Gilgit to protest against the Karachi Agreement of 19483.

Meanwhile, a group of journalists marched from Gilgit Press Club to the Supreme Appellate Court on the occasion of the World Press Freedom day on May 8. The journalists charged the government of committing excesses against the media persons and criticized state control over the freedom of expression4.

In a significant development, a Conference on Kashmir was held in New Delhi on May 6 wherein 38 leaders from POK and J&K exchanged views on the potential efforts towards the resolution of the Kashmir issue5.

In other developments, the Prime Minister of the POK, Sardar Atiq Ahmad Khan expressed faith in the newly-elected government of Pakistan. Khan stated that the number of entry points would be increased across the line of control (LoC) in Kashmir to facilitate free movement for the people on either side6.

• 1. “BNF demands self-rule for Gilgit-Baltistan,” Dawn, May 7, 2008, at http://www.dawn.com/2008/05/07/nat18.htm
• 2. “Self-rule’ in Gilgit-Baltistan demanded,” at http://www.topnews.in/self-rule-gilgit-baltistan-demanded 240282.
• 3. Press Release by Gilgit Baltistan Democratic Alliance.
• 4. “Rally condemns violence against journalist,” May 8, 2008, Weekly Bang-e-Sahar, May 10-May 16, 2008.
• 5. Palash Kumar, “Malik, Mehbooba, Shaheen meet at ‘quiet’ conference,” at http://etalaat.net/english/?p=1775
• 6. “More entry points on LoC being opened: AJK PM,” The News, May 10, 2008, at http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=111660