Gilgit-Baltistan: pro-freedom parties validated government's move, says Kaira

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kiara has said on Saturday that Gilgit-Baltistan empowerment order would not harm Kashmir cause as representative of all pro-freedom parties, All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) have also validated the move.
Talking to a private TV channel, he said detailed deliberation with all institutions including Interior and foreign ministries, security agencies, Law Department, representatives of Northern Areas and Kashmiri leadership were held before taking the decision in this regard. "Representatives of freedom movement in occupied Kashmir, All Parties
Hurriyat Conference and its leadership have categorically said that this decision would not harm Kashmir cause, and declared it a good step". The Minister said Northern Areas were not the part of Kashmir administration and it is an interim arrangement for NAs that would remain until final solution was found through a plebiscite.
He said, federal government has assured powers to people of Gilgit-Baltistan through this order. He said, JLKF has its own stance, adding Yasin Malik might have not read the full document. The Minister said, "even UN resolutions were protected, and everything would be cleared if one reads the whole document".
He said, all institutions and politicians were taken on board before taking decision in this regard. Answering a question, he said Nawaz Sharif and some other politicians wanted debate in the National Assembly on the issue, but only those issues and areas could come up for debate in National Assembly which are constitutionally part of Pakistan.
Elections in Gilgit-Baltistan were scheduled for mid October for which electoral process had been initiated along with training of the officials of election commissions. He said, the Minister for Kashmir Affairs would act as acting-Governor till the elections. Answering another question, he said Judiciary and administration of Gilgit-Baltistan was independent, adding public service commission would be set up, and NEPRA will give training to officials.
Qamar Zaman Kaira said United Nations had given control of Azad Kashmir and Northern Areas to Pakistan till plebiscite, while India declared Kashmir as its constitutional area. "One thing is clear that neither Pakistan nor India could take decision on Kashmir on their own as Kashmir issue should be resolved according to the aspiration of the Kashmiris and UN resolutions", he said. Kaira said bilateral talks between India and Pakistan would ultimately enter into trilateral talks, by including Kashmiris to find its final solution.