Land Reforms Act Gilgit-Baltistan 2025 — Separating Fact from Fiction
The Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly has passed a controversial land reform law that has triggered widespread concern among local communities, activists, and political groups. While the government portrays it as a milestone to formalise land management and empower residents, many see it as a continuation of exclusionary policies.
Critics argue it paves the way for land grabbing, resource exploitation, and legitimises historical injustices under the guise of reform. Tensions escalated further when authorities cracked down on members of the Awami Action Committee—including its chairperson, Ehsan Ali—just days before a planned grand jirga to build consensus and address long-standing grievances.
About the Speakers:
- Dr. Aasim Sajjad Akhtar is a Professor at the National Institute of Pakistan Studies (NIPS), Quaid-i-Azam University, and holds a PhD in Political Sociology from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London. As an author and columnist, he contributes perspectives on politics, society, human rights and justice, making him a prominent voice in the struggle for progressive change in Pakistan.
- Ijlal Haider is a columnist and MPhil researcher in Pakistan Studies from the National Institute of Pakistan Studies, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad. His research focuses on the intersections of land, politics and neoliberal policies. His thesis, Land and Politics in the Neoliberal Era: A Case Study of Maqpon Das Land Acquisition, District Gilgit, examines the complex dynamics of land acquisition and its socio-political impacts in Gilgit-Baltistan.
- Farman Ali is a journalist and rights activist with experience reporting on social justice, human rights, and governance issues. He will moderate the session.
This session is free and open to all. Just visit the venue to attend it.
The Black Hole
Plot 5H, Street 100, G-11/3, Islamabad.
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