The dwellers of Northern Areas have warmly rejoiced Federal government's initiative to introduce a reform package aimed at turning the area into a prosperous place. Describing the step as a landmark achievement, they said the government won their hearts and minds.
The government approved the reform package called as 'Gilgit Baltistan Empowerment and Self Governance Order 2009,' that aimed at giving full internal autonomy to Northern Areas besides renaming it as Gilgit Baltistan.
Expressing views, Sher Baz Rammal, a lecturer at Karakoram International University said the step would bring the people of Gilgit Baltistan into the national mainstream. "The reform package will herald prosperity to our area, this has been a long standing demand of the region. Rashid Sami, a student leader, said it paved way for people of the area to fully take part in national development process. When comments were sought from Syed Mehdi Shah President PPP Gilgit Baltistan, Haji Fida Muhammad Nashad Member N.As Assembly Raja Jalal Hussain, Chairman District Council Skardu, Ahmad Ali Chairman Municipal Committee Skardu, they said the package would go a long way in developing and empowering people of the area.
A member Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly, leader Muslim Leaque-Q, Dr Muzafar Railey and MNA Nasrullah Khan said that the decision of the provincial-like set up taken by PPP government, has won the hearts and minds of the people of this region. The President Muslim Leaque-N and former MNA Legislative Assembly, NAs Mahboob Ali Khan while talking about the decision said, "We expressed the hope that the announcement would prove helpful for the people of the area."
Senior Parliamentarian of Gilgit-Baltistan Haji Fida Mohammad Nashad expressed satisfaction over the package, saying it was a landmark decision that would swiftly address the grievances of the public in this region. Haji Fida Mohammad Nashad, who is also the parliamentary leader of PML-Q in Northern Area Legislative Assembly, said it was a longstanding demand of the people of the area. While senior politician and President PPP District Gilgit, Mohammad Mosa congratulated the people of Gilgit-Baltistan and thanked the federal government for the historic decision. He pointed that all major improvements for Northern Areas were made during the period of PPP including the first Northern Areas Council Legal Framework Order 1974-75 by Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Northern Areas Legal Framework Order in 1994 by Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto.
Addressing the big gathering of notables, workers of PPP at Shaheed Chowk, former MNA Legislative Assembly and President Peoples Party Astore district Muhammad Naseer Khan hailed the federal government for announcing the package for the Gilgit-Baltistan region.
Pursuant to the order, the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly will formulate its own Rules of Procedures, while legislation on various subjects pertinent to governance will be done by the Council and Assembly in their respective jurisdiction. The area would be given full rights as Azad Jammu and Kashmir, however it could not be given provincial status as per the Constitution. The Order has fifteen major parts, while the new name of Northern Areas of Pakistan shall be Gilgit- Baltistan as proposed under Article-2(f). There shall be a Governor of Gilgit-Baltistan as proposed under Article-20 and shall be appointed by the President of Pakistan. Till the election of the new legislative Assembly, Federal Minister for KANA will act as Governor. The Chief Minister will be elected by the Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly, who will be assisted by six ministers. There shall be a provision of two advisors to the Chief Minister. The Legislative assembly will have directly elected 24 members, besides six women and three technocrats seats.
The decision will empower the Gilgit-Baltistan Council and Assembly to make laws. The subject under whom the Assembly shall now have power to make law has increased from 49 to 61 whilst the Council shall have 55 subjects. To empower the Council and the Assembly on financial matters, there shall be a Council Consolidated Fund under article 54, and Gilgit-Baltistan Consolidated Fund under article 55. Regarding annual budget, a detailed item-wise budget shall be presented before the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly as being practised in Pakistan and shall be accordingly voted upon as suggested in article 56.
The Chief Judge of Supreme Appellate Court shall be appointed by the Chairman of the Council on the advice of the Governor and other Judges shall be appointed by the Chairman after seeking views of the Chief Judge. The Chief Judge and Judges of the Chief Court shall also be appointed by the Chairman of the Council on the advice of the Governor as it is being practiced in the AJK. The number of judges has been increased from three to five. The tenure of the present judges of the Supreme Judiciary has been protected in the draft.
Another step forward to empower the people of the areas, is the establishment of Gilgit-Baltistan Public Service Commission and Gilgit-Baltistan Services under Article-80 and 81. Auditor General Gilgit-Baltistan will be appointed by the Governor on the advice of Council as the case in AJK. There shall be a Chief Election Commissioner under article-82 as well as Auditor General besides emergency provisions under article-83 and 87 respectively.
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