APC proposes a joint administrative set up for AJK, GB

[bananarepublic]

APC proposes a joint administrative set up for AJK, GB

Ghulam Abbas
ISLAMABAD: As the government moves forward to introduce constitutional reforms in Gilgit Baltistan (GB), Kashmiri leaders have stood to oppose any move of making the region fifth province of Pakistan through some constitutional amendments.

Addressing an All Parties Conference (APC) organised by a local daily at the National Press Club on Wednesday, Kashmiri leaders including former prime ministers Sardar Attique Ahmad Khan and Sultan Mahmood, Chaudhry Lateef Akbar, Abdul Rasheed Turabi and others said that any move to change the constitutional status of the region would tantamount to divide the state of Kashmir.

Attique said that merging GB with Pakistan would have implications on the dispute over Jammu Kashmir. “If Pakistan imposes its sovereign writ over Gilgit-Baltistan, New Delhi will then have a political and moral right to integrate Kashmir with India. Thus with one stroke, Pakistan will be helping India to consolidate its writ on Kashmir,” he said.

Since 1947, he said that the Kashmiri people had been struggling for their right and despite loss of hundreds of thousands of lives, they held that struggle dear to their heart. In reply to query regarding the assumption that the move was linked to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, he said that the economic development should not be sought at the cost of the future of millions of Kashmiris.

Addressing the conference, Sultan said that the attempt of merging GB with Pakistan was not mere a rumour since the ruling party in AJK was consulting other political leaders regarding the issue. He said if the federal government incorporates GB into Pakistan and, as a consequence, India consolidates its hold on Kashmir, this will amount to a bartering of (Kashmiri) people’s aspirations.

Lateef Akbar said that Prime Minister Raja Muhammad Farooq Haider Khan had personally contacted him to develop a consensus on the issue of granting constitutional rights to GB as he was asked for the same by the centre.

The mode of the conference was suddenly changed when AJK Minister for Information Mushtaq Minhas indirectly favoured the reform package, saying that the area was deprived of rights for 70 years. “Kashmiri leaders, who are now talking about violation of rights in Kashmir, have never bothered to talk about grievances of people in the region. We should not become stumbling block in the way of granting rights to GB,” he said.

The Kashmiri leaders have hurt their brothers in GB by opposing every move of empowering them, he said. “I remember, the same leaders had opposed and cried over when PPP-led central government has introduced GB Self-Governance Order in 2009. By opposing the empowerment unilaterally, we are further annoying the deprived people,” he said.

Referring to history, he said that the people in GB had vacated their land from Dogra Raj by themselves. “No one from Kashmir had fought for them. To make GB further disputed Karachi Declaration was signed even without the presence of any representative from the area,” he said. In reply to a query, he said that the government was yet to make any decision regarding the constitutional matter of GB.

However, GB Chief Minister Hafeezur Rehman had sought support from the party for constitutional rights of the area during a recent meeting of the parliamentary committee, he added. Later, the Kashmiri leaders through a resolution demanded of the government to avoid any move which damages the cause of Kashmir.

They through the resolution proposed a joint administrative set up for AJK and GB in which the president, prime minister, high court and Kashmir Council will be the same for these two regions.

Courtesy: Pakistan Today
http://pamirtimes.net/2017/04/13/apc-proposes-a-joint-administrative-set-up-for-ajk-gb/

@anant_s ,@Arsalan ,@WAJsal ,@unleashed ,@Levina ,@Taygibay ,

 

[Levina]

Thanks for the tag but I think I will let Pakistanis decide this for they administer GB presently.

 

[Thəorətic Muslim]

So once/ when GB becomes a province what happens to the Pakistan Monument?

Will it be re-constructed?

 

[bananarepublic]

So once/ when GB becomes a province what happens to the Pakistan Monument?

Will it be re-constructed?

they might add another petal to the monument...

 

[Kabira]

G-B should be given provincial rights and seats in national parliament. Will bring some balance even if just 5 seats.

 

[Imad.Khan]

The people of GB have been demanding provincial status for a while now. Also people of GB don't consider themselves as part of Kashmir. Also just to stop people from assumptions and speculations. Pakistan should hold a referendum in GB and let the people decide what they want. infact they can do 2 referendums in 1, whether they would like to join Pakistan as the 5th province or would they like to join India, or would they prefer to become an independent country together with Kashmir. Hold the referendum under UN observers and that way we can show the world that Pakistan has done the referendum on its side and the people what the people have decided. That will also put pressure on the Indian side to hold referendums.

 

[SMASTER]

I think we should give Azad Kashmir and GB a province status.

 

[anant_s]

Thanks for the tag

constitutional reforms

@WAJsal i was meaning to ask this question to you, prior to the recent move how is administration handled in GB and what is the constitutional setup?
There are a lot of things involved in running administration and revenue and tax are one of the biggest concerns between provincial and federal governments. I would love to understand the current system here.

 

[S Hussain]

Gilgit Baltistan is already a part of Pakistan

 

[Flash_Ninja]

So once/ when GB becomes a province what happens to the Pakistan Monument?

Will it be re-constructed?

Doesnt the monument already have two smaller petals representing Kashmir?

Its not like GB is becoming a full province, they are being given provincial rights but they are also still a part of Kashmir.

 

[Areesh]

So once/ when GB becomes a province what happens to the Pakistan Monument?

Will it be re-constructed?

Another big petal would be added.

 

[Adiyogi]

Pakistan should hold a referendum in GB and let the people decide what they want. infact they can do 2 referendums in 1, whether they would like to join Pakistan as the 5th province or would they like to join India, or would they prefer to become an independent country together with Kashmir. Hold the referendum under UN observers and that way we can show the world that Pakistan has done the referendum on its side and the people what the people have decided. That will also put pressure on the Indian side to hold referendums.

yes this would definately pressurise india, but i don't think that either india or pakistan would like to risk a referendum, neither of the army would let that happen, taking history into consideration.

 

[WAJsal]

@WAJsal i was meaning to ask this question to you, prior to the recent move how is administration handled in GB and what is the constitutional setup?

Regardless of any constitutional change GB is getting treated like any other province. Students are being educated now that: Pakistan has 5 province, with GB as the fifth.
Special status of GB is limiting the economic and social potential of the area. With a provincial status the government will take the area more seriously. The current status is not a permanent solution to the problem. Provincial status will help the locals and the provincial government of GB. When you are as a part of stakeholders you fell somewhat equal, at times most of the high level meetings have officials from other provinces and there is no voice for areas like FATA, or AJK and GB.

 

[Mukhbar]

GB fifth province is need of hour and also demand of its people.

GB fifth province is need of hour and also demand of its people.