‘Constitutional’ reforms finalised: GB likely to have place in Senate, NA shortly

[shah1398]

‘Constitutional’ reforms finalised: GB likely to have place in Senate, NA shortly

• National

13 HOURS AGO BY GHULAM ABBAS

• PM Nawaz scheduled to visit Gilgit on Feb 24, may announce region’s empowerment
• CM Hafeez believes new reforms will empower autonomous region politically, financially

The high-level reforms committee, constituted last year by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to introduce constitutional reforms for Gilgit-Baltistan, has proposed further empowerment of the semi-autonomous region in its recommendations, the summary of which will be submitted to the premier shortly, it has been learnt.

According to official sources, the prime minister – who is scheduled to visit Gilgit on February 24 to address the joint session of the Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly (GBLA) and GB Council – is likely to make an announcement about the region’s empowerment.

“The proposed package will address at least 80 per cent of deprivation of the area people,” GB Chief Minister Hafeezur Rehman said while talking to Pakistan Today.

He, however, refused to share what the committee – of which he is also a member – “has proposed in its recommendations to introduce reforms” even better than those introduced by the Pakistan People’s Party-led government in 2009, when a provincial set-up had been introduced through the Gilgit-Baltistan Self-Governance Ordinance, 2009.

“As I am under oath, I cannot share (those) details (about the outcome of a number of meetings of the committee convened in Islamabad over the last nine months,” the chief minister said, adding that the new package would empower the region both financially and politically.

Pakistan Today had earlier learnt from Adviser to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz that the summary had almost been finalised and would be submitted to the prime minister for approval in a couple of weeks.

According to sources, the committee will propose to the central government to grant representation to Gilgit-Baltistan in the National Assembly and Senate. “Instead of giving GB a complete provincial status, the committee will be floating a proposal for addressing the grievances of the area by granting it representation in the two houses of parliament,” they said.

“Three members each for the National Assembly and Senate will be elected from GB, but the area will not get its share in the Senate as enjoyed by other provinces,” the sources said of the proposal.

According to them, these three NA members will be elected from Gilgit, Diamar and Baltistan region through the set procedure of election across the country, while three members for the Senate will be elected by the GB Legislative Assembly.

The sources pointed out that the reforms committee did not suggest a complete provincial status for GB apparently due to international obligations regarding the Kashmir issue. But, they added, it did propose to the government to give Gilgit-Baltistan its due share and representation in the next NFC Award to bring it on par with other provinces.

Earlier, Chief Minister Hafeezur Rehman had informed the reforms committee that the political parties in GB were on the same page as regards the resolutions passed by the GBLA on the constitutional matter, ie (grant of) complete provincial status to GB.

The reforms committee draws prime minister’s aide Sartaj Aziz as its chairman, and Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Hafiz Hafeezur Rehman, the chief secretary, Kashmir Affairs secretary, PM’s special assistant on law and representatives from the military as its members.

http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/201...gb-likely-to-have-place-in-senate-na-shortly/

 

[shah1398]

On the other sides these are the hiccups in the way.

Kashmiris unwilling to allow govt to annex GB

• National

12 HOURS AGO BY MIAN ABRAR

• Ex-Kashmiri PM says PM Nawaz implementing Modi-Doval agenda
• Muslim Conference to launch campaign to block any sinister plan
• Khalid Ibrahim says Pakistan can’t annex GB without a plebiscite

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif may face strong resistance from various segments of society within Pakistan and from parts of Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan itself if the federal administration goes ahead with the implementation of the recommendations of the (Gilgit-Baltistan) reforms committee.

Former Kashmiri prime minister Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan said that any such decision would be tantamount to the division of Jammu Kashmir which would never be acceptable to Kashmiri people. “Kashmiris living on either side of the Line of Control (LoC) as well as in Laddakh, Aksai Chin and Gilgit-Baltistan are party to the Kashmir issue along with Pakistan and India,” said Sardar Attique, who is also the president of the All-Pakistan Jammu Kashmir Muslim Conference.

He said that any change in the status of Gilgit-Baltistan would prove detrimental to Pakistan’s claim on Kashmir. He said that Kashmiri people were the custodian of the freedom struggle and they would never allow anyone to surrender Kashmir to India. Asked if the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was a major cause for the government’s plan to annexe the region into Pakistan, Attique said that the border agreement between Pakistan and China provided the basis for the CPEC and there was no need to change GB’s status.

“It seems that Prime Minister Sharif is implementing the agenda of (Indian Prime Minister) Narendra Modi and (his National Security Adviser) Ajit Doval. This effort is aimed at turning Pakistan a puppet state of India. Perhaps, this is the agenda for which worst rigging was done to help elect Sharif as the prime minister,” he said.

Attique said that the people of Kashmir would resist and foil all evil plans to divide Kashmir, adding that Nawaz Sharif would do disservice to the nation if he took a step that would be detrimental to the Kashmir cause for which millions of people had laid down their lives. “Any such step would tantamount to violation of the UN resolutions on Kashmir. Muslim Conference would launch a campaign to block any sinister plan,” he added.

Jammu Kashmir People’s Party Chairman Sardar Khalid Ibrahim said that the government was ill advised, warning that it’s haste might damage Pakistan’s claim on Kashmir. “If Prime Minister Sharif plans to do so, he would have to remove the Articles one and 257 from the constitution. Article 257 doesn’t allow Pakistan to give representation to the people in Gilgit-Baltistan in its constitution,” he added.

He said that the Karachi Accord was another impediment in this regard.

He said that another agreement which was signed by the Chinese leadership too in year 1963 was another hurdle. “This document also provides that the people of Indian-held Jammu Kashmir, Leh, AJK, Aksai Chin and GB would vote when a plebiscite is held to decide the fate of Kashmiris,” he added.

Sardar Ibrahim said that without a plebiscite, Pakistan could not annex Gilgit-Baltistan. “The PML-N regime is strengthening India’s case on Kashmir. This is tantamount to division of Kashmir which we would never allow. We strongly oppose any such move,” he added.

Jammu Kashmir Liberation League (JKLL) Chairman Abdul Majeed Malik said that after signing the Simla Accord, it was a bitter truth that both Pakistan and India wanted to turn the Working Boundary alongside Kashmir into an international border.

He said that over the past few decades, the Pakistani government did not raise the Kashmir issue at the UN Security Council, adding that from former general Pervez Musharraf down to Nawaz Sharif, all the rulers quietly decided to surrender. He said that Musharraf had made an effort to strike a deal with India over the Kashmir issue, while Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had made the same effort a number of times. “He tried to strike a deal with former Indian prime minister IK Gujral, then with (another former prime minister) Atal Bihari Vajpayee and recently with Narenda Modi, but the people of Kashmir did not allow it to happen,” he added.

The Liberation League warned that any such step would not only harm the cause of Kashmir since both Pakistan and India were bound to comply with the UN resolutions (on Kashmir).

Abdul Hakim Kashmiri, a Kashmiri scholar and author, said that by giving representation to Gilgit-Baltistan in parliament, Pakistan would repeat the mistake that India had committed in 1952.

“India did it because New Delhi claims Kashmir as its integral part. On the other hand, Jammu Kashmir is not a part of Pakistan under the Article one of its constitution. Any step to annex Gilgit-Baltistan into Pakistan would be tantamount to violation of Pakistan’s own constitution,” he added.

When Pakistan Today argued that under the proposal, there would be no amendment to the article one of the constitution, the Kashmiri leader said that any such step would weaken its own case on Kashmir. “If GB members would become a part of the Senate or the National Assembly, it would technically mean that the region has been annexed (into Pakistan),” he said.

The leader said that any such step would also be a violation of the Karachi Accord which, according to him, was the “only legal testament that provides legal authority to Pakistan’s administration of GB and AJK”.

“I understand that Pakistan wants to provide legal cover to CPEC in a bid to remove Indian objections over it. However, this would rather weaken Pakistan’s position,” he added.

Asked about the legal provision for CPEC, the Kashmiri said that the government of Pakistan should have signed an accord with the Chinese government, while the governments of AJK and GB should also have become parties to the deed.

http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2017/02/13/kashmiris-unwilling-to-allow-govt-to-annex-gb/

 

[Imad.Khan]

A good step but its still incomplete, GB deserves full provincial status equal to all other provinces. We have been denying them their due rights for the past 70 years and it cannot go on like this any longer. We also need a different strategy in regards to Kashmir as its clear now that UN is a toothless organization and will not be able to provide Kashmirs their right to freedom from Indian occupation.

 

[bananarepublic]

On the other sides these are the hiccups in the way.

Kashmiris unwilling to allow govt to annex GB

• National

12 HOURS AGO BY MIAN ABRAR

• Ex-Kashmiri PM says PM Nawaz implementing Modi-Doval agenda
• Muslim Conference to launch campaign to block any sinister plan
• Khalid Ibrahim says Pakistan can’t annex GB without a plebiscite

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif may face strong resistance from various segments of society within Pakistan and from parts of Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan itself if the federal administration goes ahead with the implementation of the recommendations of the (Gilgit-Baltistan) reforms committee.

Former Kashmiri prime minister Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan said that any such decision would be tantamount to the division of Jammu Kashmir which would never be acceptable to Kashmiri people. “Kashmiris living on either side of the Line of Control (LoC) as well as in Laddakh, Aksai Chin and Gilgit-Baltistan are party to the Kashmir issue along with Pakistan and India,” said Sardar Attique, who is also the president of the All-Pakistan Jammu Kashmir Muslim Conference.

He said that any change in the status of Gilgit-Baltistan would prove detrimental to Pakistan’s claim on Kashmir. He said that Kashmiri people were the custodian of the freedom struggle and they would never allow anyone to surrender Kashmir to India. Asked if the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was a major cause for the government’s plan to annexe the region into Pakistan, Attique said that the border agreement between Pakistan and China provided the basis for the CPEC and there was no need to change GB’s status.

“It seems that Prime Minister Sharif is implementing the agenda of (Indian Prime Minister) Narendra Modi and (his National Security Adviser) Ajit Doval. This effort is aimed at turning Pakistan a puppet state of India. Perhaps, this is the agenda for which worst rigging was done to help elect Sharif as the prime minister,” he said.

Attique said that the people of Kashmir would resist and foil all evil plans to divide Kashmir, adding that Nawaz Sharif would do disservice to the nation if he took a step that would be detrimental to the Kashmir cause for which millions of people had laid down their lives. “Any such step would tantamount to violation of the UN resolutions on Kashmir. Muslim Conference would launch a campaign to block any sinister plan,” he added.

Jammu Kashmir People’s Party Chairman Sardar Khalid Ibrahim said that the government was ill advised, warning that it’s haste might damage Pakistan’s claim on Kashmir. “If Prime Minister Sharif plans to do so, he would have to remove the Articles one and 257 from the constitution. Article 257 doesn’t allow Pakistan to give representation to the people in Gilgit-Baltistan in its constitution,” he added.

He said that the Karachi Accord was another impediment in this regard.

He said that another agreement which was signed by the Chinese leadership too in year 1963 was another hurdle. “This document also provides that the people of Indian-held Jammu Kashmir, Leh, AJK, Aksai Chin and GB would vote when a plebiscite is held to decide the fate of Kashmiris,” he added.

Sardar Ibrahim said that without a plebiscite, Pakistan could not annex Gilgit-Baltistan. “The PML-N regime is strengthening India’s case on Kashmir. This is tantamount to division of Kashmir which we would never allow. We strongly oppose any such move,” he added.

Jammu Kashmir Liberation League (JKLL) Chairman Abdul Majeed Malik said that after signing the Simla Accord, it was a bitter truth that both Pakistan and India wanted to turn the Working Boundary alongside Kashmir into an international border.

He said that over the past few decades, the Pakistani government did not raise the Kashmir issue at the UN Security Council, adding that from former general Pervez Musharraf down to Nawaz Sharif, all the rulers quietly decided to surrender. He said that Musharraf had made an effort to strike a deal with India over the Kashmir issue, while Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had made the same effort a number of times. “He tried to strike a deal with former Indian prime minister IK Gujral, then with (another former prime minister) Atal Bihari Vajpayee and recently with Narenda Modi, but the people of Kashmir did not allow it to happen,” he added.

The Liberation League warned that any such step would not only harm the cause of Kashmir since both Pakistan and India were bound to comply with the UN resolutions (on Kashmir).

Abdul Hakim Kashmiri, a Kashmiri scholar and author, said that by giving representation to Gilgit-Baltistan in parliament, Pakistan would repeat the mistake that India had committed in 1952.

“India did it because New Delhi claims Kashmir as its integral part. On the other hand, Jammu Kashmir is not a part of Pakistan under the Article one of its constitution. Any step to annex Gilgit-Baltistan into Pakistan would be tantamount to violation of Pakistan’s own constitution,” he added.

When Pakistan Today argued that under the proposal, there would be no amendment to the article one of the constitution, the Kashmiri leader said that any such step would weaken its own case on Kashmir. “If GB members would become a part of the Senate or the National Assembly, it would technically mean that the region has been annexed (into Pakistan),” he said.

The leader said that any such step would also be a violation of the Karachi Accord which, according to him, was the “only legal testament that provides legal authority to Pakistan’s administration of GB and AJK”.

“I understand that Pakistan wants to provide legal cover to CPEC in a bid to remove Indian objections over it. However, this would rather weaken Pakistan’s position,” he added.

Asked about the legal provision for CPEC, the Kashmiri said that the government of Pakistan should have signed an accord with the Chinese government, while the governments of AJK and GB should also have become parties to the deed.

http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2017/02/13/kashmiris-unwilling-to-allow-govt-to-annex-gb/

As our chief minister said we are part of the kashmir problem and not part of kashmir itself.

But finally we are slowly getting our due share of the government .

 

[shah1398]

As our chief minister said we are part of the kashmir problem and not part of kashmir itself.

But finally we are slowly getting our due share of the government .

Can U plz delibrate on part below as how giving constitutional rights to GB wud have direct affect on Pakistan's Kashmir cause?

He said that any change in the status of Gilgit-Baltistan would prove detrimental to Pakistan’s claim on Kashmir.

 

[Kambojaric]

Cant we just hold a regional plebiscite asking the people of GB whether they want to become fully part of Pakistan or remain part of the Kashmir region? They will obviously vote to become part of Pakistan and this will help ensure the people of GB are able to enjoy their full constitutional rights asap whilst also help the national government to deflect questions relating to "unlawful" annexations. I mean hey the people of the region want things this way, who are you to decide for them?

 

[ito]

India is sure to respond to this move.

 

[bananarepublic]

As we know that Kashmir is a disputed territory giving gilgit baltistan some what provincial status mind hinder the fact of it being a disputed territory resulting in the loc being converted into IB. The indian government would be able to claim j&k as part of India destroying the prospect of a plebiscite.
But frankly we know that the indian would never have a plebiscite regarding askai chin the population is very minute to effect it and we all know GB and AJK would vote for Pakistan.

Can U plz delibrate on part below as how giving constitutional rights to GB wud have direct affect on Pakistan's Kashmir cause?

 

[I S I]

India is sure to respond to this move.

Release Phantom 2 to overcome your Anger.

 

[ito]

Release Phantom 2 to overcome your Anger.

Forget Phantom 2, once Pakistan do anything to legalize Pakistan rule over GB, very well you can forget Kashmir for ever.

 

[I S I]

Forget Phantom 2, once Pakistan do anything to legalize Pakistan rule over GB, very well you can forget Kashmir for ever.

Oh God, we're shivering in our boots right now.

 

[ito]

Oh God, we're shivering in our boots right now.

That is what happens if people lack simple intelligence to grasp a point. You shiver or you fight based on the threat.

According to Pakistan, Kashmir is a dispute hence it doesn't belong to Pakistan. But if you legalize your rule in GB, you are contradicting your own position. Don't thing people sitting in India will not advantages of this, they are milk the whole situation for its worth, and to determent of Pakistan's interest.

 

[I S I]

That is what happens if people lack simple intelligence to grasp a point. You shiver or you fight based on the threat.

According to Pakistan, Kashmir is a dispute hence it doesn't belong to Pakistan. But if you legalize your rule in GB, you are contradicting your own position. Don't thing people sitting in India will not advantages of this, they are milk the whole situation for its worth, and to determent of Pakistan's interest.

@WAJsal please enlighten the fools about situation of GB.

 

[WAJsal]

Good news, should give the same rights to AJK. @unleashed

Forget Phantom 2, once Pakistan do anything to legalize Pakistan rule over GB, very well you can forget Kashmir for ever.

Ok man, how long should i wait before we forget Kashmir forever? You are overthinking it, GB is only getting seats in NA and senate. No major constitutional changes, read the news before posting.

Can U plz delibrate on part below as how giving constitutional rights to GB wud have direct affect on Pakistan's Kashmir cause?

It will have no affect. Instead the state of Pakistan should change the constitution and make the whole Jammu and Kashmir as a part of Pakistan. Look at the Indian constitution.

@WAJsal please enlighten the fools about situation of GB.

Classic case of posting before reading the news.

 

[Deadpool]

Cant we just hold a regional plebiscite asking the people of GB whether they want to become fully part of Pakistan or remain part of the Kashmir region? They will obviously vote to become part of Pakistan and this will help ensure the people of GB are able to enjoy their full constitutional rights asap whilst also help the national government to deflect questions relating to "unlawful" annexations. I mean hey the people of the region want things this way, who are you to decide for them?

The UN mandated condition of plebicite is complete withdrawal of Pakistani military from the region, and having Indian forces maintain "minimum required" force .

If Pakistan conducts a plebicite without the above met conditions, it would be considered Pakistan going against the UN plebicite.

Not that I don't agree with what Pakistan should do. But be aware of the consequences of the Pakistani action. It would set the strongest precedent possible for GoI to conduct an internal plebicite and/or divide J&K into separate states and hive off the other areas like Jammu and Leh/Laddakh just like Pakistan is doing to GB...thereby altering the political union and the resultant laws.

And I am all for it. Personally, I think lets just move on from this.

@Kaptaan

@WAJsal please enlighten the fools about situation of GB.

There is nothing that @WAJsal can add or subtract from this. Things are the way they are from an international legal standpoint regardless of whether the people of GB overwhelmingly approve of this move or not.

There will be long term consequences of this action. Legally, Pakistan is weakening its case for Kashmir and trading it for prosperity and improved condition of its people in GB.

Positive in my opinion for everyone but those who want perpetual conflict.