Ghulam Abbas
ISLAMABAD: Despite
much deliberation that has consumed an entire year, the government has failed
to reach a consensus of making Gilgit Baltistan (GB) the fifth province of the
country and has instead opted to maintain the special provincial status
accorded to the region.
Though final recommendations of a constitutional committee,
formed by the prime minister, proposed granting GB the status of a special
province with representations in the National Assembly and Senate, besides
giving it share in the National Finance Commission (NFC), the National Economic
Council (NEC), the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) and others, but the
stakeholders could not approve the same due to objection on the part of Azad
Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), reliable sources informed Pakistan Today.
All the stakeholders of this issue had, however, agreed on other
reforms like giving more legislative power to the provincial assembly and
authorities in light of the 18th amendment. “Excluding the posts of president
and prime minister, almost the same setup that is being followed in AJK will be
copied in GB,” the sources said.
A special meeting of Prime Minister (PM) Shahid Khaqan Abbasi
with all the stakeholders was held at PM Secretariat on Wednesday, which was
also attended by Prime Minister Azad Jammu and Kashmir Raja Farooq Haider,
Federal Minister of Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan Barjees Tahir, Gilgit
Baltistan Chief Minister Hafeezur Rehman, Special Assistant to the Prime
Minister on Law Barrister Zafarullah Khan, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman
Sartaj Aziz, Military Operations (DGMO) director general and other officials.
The meeting decided to give legal cover to Gilgit Baltistan
Self-Governance and Empowerment Ordinance, 2009, through the parliament. Per
the decision, the GB Self-Governance and Empowerment Ordinance, 2009, would be
replaced by the GB Interim Constitutional Act, 2018, to be enacted by the
parliament of Pakistan.
All legislative powers of provinces would be delegated to GB
assembly along with all subjects of GB council. The council would be given a
ceremonial status with only residual powers. Broad spectrum civil service
reforms would also to be made a part of the act, including induction of GB
civil service officers into PAS, OMG and PSP. One seat for GB is to be
created/designated in FPSC to be filled by a retired officer of GB domicile.
Development/non-development funds of GB would be released by the federal
government directly to GB.
According to documents exclusively available with Pakistan
Today, the special committee formed by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi
had proposed at least four seats in the National Assembly, including a special
seat for women, and three seats in the Senate to be allocated for GB. Besides,
it was also proposed that the provincial set up be given its due share and
representation in NFC, IRSA and NEC.
The documents also showed that it had also been proposed to give
all legislative authorities to Gilgit Baltistan Legislative Assembly, other
than enumerated in Article 142 of the constitution. The special committee on
constitutional package had also proposed a robust local government system in
GB.
However, a reliable source claimed that irrespective of the
final recommendations of the committee, the stakeholders could not reach a
conclusion regarding making GB the fifth province of the country.
According to a statement issued by GB chief minister, the
recommendations of the committee regarding further empowerment of GB were
presented in the meeting at PM House today, which was approved with the
agreement of all stakeholders. It was agreed in the meeting that the
recommendation would be forwarded to the next cabinet meeting for approval,
after which the same would be tabled in the National Assembly in the form of an
act. “With the approval cabinet and assembly, the major demand of GB regarding
constitutional rights will be resolved,” the statement said.
However, a source claimed that despite tall claims of the
government of further empowering the region with the introduction of
constitutional reforms, the exercise of the PM’s committee remained almost
useless since it could not make a breakthrough regarding territorial status of
the area.
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