G-B for premature termination of govt term

Stakeholders have joined hands to materialize the dream of constitutional representation for G-B

ISLAMABAD:

In a bid to align Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) with other provinces through a constitutional affirmation of its provinciality, the political parties of the region have agreed on premature termination of the incumbent government.

Opposition Leader Amjad Hussain said that the assembly must end prematurely and next elections be held alongside the general elections held in other provinces.

To this, Speaker Syed Amjad Zaidi said that the government was ready to sacrifice its term for the interim provincial status.

Information Minister Fatehullah Khan said that Prime Minister Imran Khan has made history by giving constitutional rights to G-B.

The opposition leader said that all stakeholders have agreed on the provincial status, and it would be formally announced soon.

Read: 'G-B to be made province soon'

It is worth noting here that locals have demanded constitutional rights for the territory for a long time. Now, as the government moves ahead with this, there will be four seats for GB in the National Assembly (NA) and seven in the Senate.

Moreover, until the region becomes economically stable, tax exemptions and subsidies on wheat will remain. Moreover, it will give four per cent share in the National Finance Commission (NFC).

The opposition leader said that over the past 70 years, the people have developed a sense of deprivation. He said that Pakistan’s position and the United Nations’ resolutions on the Kashmir dispute should remain intact as the people get their due rights under the Constitution of Pakistan.

Therefore, he added, the political leadership of the region has agreed on the interim provincial status. He further said that the ball is in the federal government’s court as it has to table the draft in parliament.

The speaker said that G-B has been struggling for 75 years, and only Prime Minister Imran had the courage and fortitude to grant it a provincial status.