New Delhi, Jan 18 (UNI) India on Friday summoned Deputy High Commissioner of Pakistan and registered protest on recent order by Supreme Court of Pakistan on the so-called "Gilgit-Baltistan” and called it an "interference in India’s internal affairs".
An MEA statement here also asked Pakistan "to immediately vacate all areas under its illegal occupation".
"The Deputy High Commissioner of Pakistan was summoned today and a strong protest was lodged on recent order by Supreme Court of Pakistan on the so-called "Gilgit-Baltistan” which is an interference in India’s internal affairs," an MEA statement said here.
"It was reiterated that the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir, which also includes the so-called 'Gilgit-Baltistan' has been, is and shall remain an integral part of India. Pakistan Government or judiciary have no locus standii on territories illegally and forcibly occupied by it," an MEA statement said here.
"Any action to alter the status of these occupied territories by Pakistan has no legal basis whatsoever. India rejected such continued attempts by Pakistan to bring material change in these occupied territories and to camouflage grave human rights violations, exploitation and sufferings of the people living there," it said.
The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Thursday, while giving a written order regarding the constitutional status of Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and the grant of fundamental rights to its citizens, ruled that the powers of the top court also extend to the region.
The written order also states that no part of the 1973 Constitution of Pakistan can be abolished or amended without proper legislation, a report in Pakistani newspaper 'Dawn' said.
UNI DEVN SHK1904