In session: G-B lawmakers demand diplomatic passports

Vacant posts in govt departments, resolution seeking powers to amend governance order discussed.

The Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) legislative assembly on Monday unanimously passed a resolution demanding diplomatic passports for lawmakers.

The resolution was read out by treasury bench lawmaker Abdul Hameed during the first day of the current session chaired by speaker Wazir Baig.



“The speaker, deputy speaker and others should be given diplomatic passports according to their designations,” stated the resolution as the house unanimously endorsed the idea.

Earlier, Rehmat Khaliq of JUI-F raised the issue of vacancies in various departments of the G-B government, saying several posts had not been filled for years. “We want to know why nearly 4,500 vacant posts have not been filled as yet,” he questioned.

Upon this, Chief Minister Mehdi Shah said eligible candidates would be recruited against the vacant posts within a week as a decision to this effect had already been taken in Monday’s cabinet meeting, which was attended by the chief secretary, among others.

Amina Ansari of the PML-Q drew the attention of the house to a resolution that sought powers for the assembly to make amendments to the G-B Governance Order 2009. The resolution was passed around two years ago.

Currently, the G-B Assembly lacks the authority to make changes to the governance order, said Ansari. She added that consequently, an interim government cannot be formed after December 10, 2014, which is the last day of the incumbent regime’s five-year term.

Replying to her observations, the chief minister said it was the responsibility of the federal government to address the issue. “We hope the issue is being looked at seriously and the centre will take measures to set up an interim government,” Shah said.

Sadia Danish, the adviser for tourism, said a policy was being formed to boost tourism in the region and USAID had also hired consultants. She said the consultants held sessions with all stakeholders to prepare it. “We will share it with lawmakers once we get the draft,” said Danish, who was earlier asked by the deputy speaker to explain the involvement of USAID in the formulation of the policy.

As the session drew to a close, JUI-F lawmaker Sarwar Shah tabled a resolution condemning the recent attack on Maulana Fazlur Rahman in Quetta. The resolution was unanimously passed by the house.

The speaker then adjourned the session till Tuesday (today).

Published in The Express Tribune, November 11^th, 2014.