The political leadership of Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) sought on Monday a provisional provincial status of the area with representation in the Senate as well as the National Assembly of Pakistan till the settlement of the Kashmir issue.
The recommendation was given to a sub-committee of the Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights, which met here to review the G-B Governance and Self-Rule Order 2009, and to discuss the fundamental human rights violation in G-B.
The committee was chaired by its convener Senator Raza Rabbani, and was attended by Senator Farhatullah Babar, Chief Minister G-B Syed Mehdi Shah, Speaker G-B Legislative Assembly Wazir Baig, members the G-B Council Amjad Advocate and Attaullah Shahab and the G-B chief secretary.
The G-B political leadership sought a full-fledged constitutional status of the area by giving it financial autonomy and representation in the Senate and the NA. The officials of the Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Ministry will brief the committee on Tuesday (tomorrow).
The Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights had visited G-B in April this year, where they met all stakeholders, including politicians, civil society, the judiciary and the general public, to discuss their reservations over the fundamental political and constitutional rights violation.
Sources said that G-B Chief Minister Mehdi Shah had put forward the demand of a full-fledged provincial status in the area. He had noted that G-B is facing difficulties due to the absence of a financial mechanism within the provincial government.
“We made it clear to the special committee on human rights that neither the UN resolution on Kashmir nor the Establishment is [an obstacle] in providing constitutional rights to the people of G-B. But there is a need for [political will by the leaders], in this regard,” said Amjad Advocate, a member of the G-B Council, who was one of the participants in the meeting on Monday.
He said that though G-B was given provincial status earlier under the G-B Governance and the Self-Rule Order-2009, no financial mechanism rests with the provincial government because it has not been given a share in the National Finance Commission (NFC) awards, nor is it allowed to collect GST and custom duty.
He said that a demand had already been put to allow G-B to collect its GST and custom duty before the former prime minister, and he had approved this proposal in principle. However, the finance division is the key hurdle in implementing this proposal, he added.
“At present, we are like beggars. What is the harm if, constitutionally, we are given our financial share under the NFC award, or[if we are allowed] to collect our own revenues in our own territory,”he maintained.
He noted that the G-B Governance and Self Rule-2009 Order was approved before the 18th Constitutional Amendment, and why the 18th Amendment is implemented in G-B.
“Why [do] certain quarters give the impression of sensitivity when there is time to give it rights,” he said, adding that the federal government never considers the sensitivity of the area when it builds the Diamer-Bhasha dam and the economic corridor, or any other such mega project in the area.
“Therefore, we had [given our recommendation] today to the committee granting the area with a provisional provincial status till the settlement of the Kashmir issue," he maintained.
Shifting of custom check post
Later on Monday, at a session of the G-B Council held in Islamabad, a Legislative Bill was also tabled by Advocate Amjad, seeking to shift the custom check post from the Sost Border till G-B is allowed to collect GST and custom duty by itself.
“We had taken this position because we want to have free trade access to our people -- at least within our own territory. And the federal government should relocate this check post in any area other than the G-B jurisdiction,” he maintained.
COMMENTS (7)
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I think, in order to have full autonomy in Gilgit-Baltistan, we need a system or structure like that in Azad Kashmir. Under this kind of administration, one can impose all kinds of internal taxation and can run the affairs of the area like a country, with full autonomy in internal matters.
Yes, this is the right of GB and all other areas that are in PAKISTANI territory and not given any provincial status. If their people agree and want to be recognized as settled part of PAKISTAN than Pakistan should jump on the opportunity and give them their fair due rights.....
GB is the heart of PAKISTAN as any other area. OUR GB brothers are brave, friendly, honest and humble people. The GB area is a heaven on earth.
As said, Pakistan should give provincial rights to the GB region A.S.A.P. per their people wishes.
We regret why our ancestors chosen Pakistan? its almost 64 years of human rights violation in GB, our hero's were defended Pakistan in 65-71 and Kargil wars, currently in war with the Taliban throughout within and outside the border of Pakistan, thousands of the soldiers sacrificed their lives for Pakistan but in return what they get? Shamefully they claim that the K2 and other physical resources belong to Pakistan but the people of the area are orphans in the eyes to the Pakistani establishment as well as the so-called politicians..
Cross-border trolls, please discharge your 'national' duty to jump in.
Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan and FATA should all be made provinces of Pakistan now. And be afforded all rights and privileges of any other Pakistani citizen.
Gilgit-Baltistn (GB) is only useful for it is physical features i.e strategic location and water resources. Its people have no value in the eyes of the occupied Pakistani junta. GB is one of the most unique place in the world that its people are neither citizens of any country nor classified as refugees. In short they don't have any status at all not even that of refugees of Afghanistan or Palestine. it is interesting that most of Pakistani es have no idea (even the law makers) that people of GB are not citizens (voters) of Pakstan
This is the need of the hour and the suggestion seems feasible.
Governments have been talking about issues of Balochistan, FATA and other neglected regions but due to non representation of GB voice in NA and Senate, nobody talks about the region despite of the fact that GB has offered its unconditional support and sacrifice for more than 60 years.