Gilgit Baltistan

Now or never: Lawyers urge government to end G-B’s constitutional limbo

Say region be made part of Pakistan’s Constitution or provided separate constitution.

Shabbir Mir January 07, 2015

G-B was made a de facto province through a presidential order in 2009. While the semi-autonomous region has its own chief minister and governor, its people don’t have representation in the National Assembly. PHOTO: ONLINE

GILGIT:

Lawyers in Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) have urged the federal government to either bring the region within the purview of Pakistan’s constitution or provide it with a separate constitution.

The firm stance comes at a time when the region is preparing for elections this year. A caretaker set-up has already been put in place with a mandate to hold elections within 90 days after the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)-led government completed its five-year term in December.

“This is the right time to grant us a constitution and redress the sense of deprivation which the region has faced for decades,” G-B Bar Council Vice President Shehbaz Khan told The Express Tribune on Wednesday.

According to Khan, the G-B Self Governance and Empowerment Order 2009 introduced by the erstwhile PPP government is inadequate to suit their needs.

“The 2009 order will not be accepted anymore,” he added. “Instead of introducing ceremonial changes in the order, the federal government should make arrangements to conduct elections for a constituent assembly”.

Khan insisted the elections for the constituent assembly can only be made possible if they are conducted through a presidential order under Article 258. Under this constitutional provision, the president can issue orders to guarantee good governance in any part of the country which does not form part of a province.

“This will serve the interest of G-B and Pakistan,” he added. Khan pointed out that Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) has a separate constitution.

“G-B isn’t a direct party to any conflict,” Khan said. “And yet, it is not at par with Azad Kashmir or occupied Kashmir and its people have been in constitutional limbo for over six decades.”

G-B was made a de facto province through a presidential order in 2009. While the semi-autonomous region has its own chief minister and governor, its people don’t have representation in the National Assembly.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 8^th, 2015.