Sheikh Rashid urges parties to support initiative granting G-B interim province status

Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid on Wednesday appreciated the Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) Legislative Assembly for unanimously passing a resolution demanding interim province status for the region.

Rashid urged the leadership of all political parties to come forward and tackle the issue with maturity and support the initiative for the greater interest of Pakistan.

The minister termed the resolution historic and said it would have far-reaching effects not only for Pakistan but also on the international stage.

The resolution was jointly-tabled by G-B Chief Minister Khalid Khurshid Khan and opposition leader Amjad Hussain.

Read more: G-B Assembly unanimously adopts joint-resolution for interim province status

The text of the resolution read that the federal government, the prime minister and the state institutions should give G-B the status of an interim constitutional province and adequate representation in the National Assembly and other federal bodies.

The Constitution of Pakistan should be amended to make Gilgit-Baltistan an interim constitutional province, the resolution added.

The interior minister hoped that all political parties would agree to accord G-B the status of a province.

He expressed confidence that the opposition would also give its support in passing the resolution for a bright and progressive future of the region.

"Pakistan would easily seek China’s support on this issue but it would face propaganda of Indian government which would have to be defeated unanimously," he added.