The Sub-Committee of Senate Human Rights Committee tasked to recommend amendments in Gilgit-Baltistan (Empowerment and Self-Governance) Order 2009, to empower the people of the area, is set to finalise its recommendations in consultation with stakeholders. This was stated by Senator Farhatullah Babar at a seminar organised by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan here on Saturday. The sub-committee is headed by PPP Senator Mian Raza Rabbani and includes Mushahid Hussain Sayyed and Farhatullah Babar as members.
Senator Babar said that in August last the Senate also unanimously adopted a resolution moved by the PPP calling upon the government to amend the Empowerment Order 2009. This unanimous resolution will serve as catalyst for empowering the people and the elected G-B Assembly, he said. He said the people of Gilgit-Baltistan had voluntarily joined Pakistan and the area has critical geo-strategic importance for Pakistan as the route of Pakistan security, foreign policy and economy passes through it. About deprivations of its people, he said that G-B neither has a seat in Parliament of Pakistan nor a seat in any of the national institutions like the CCI, the NEC, NFC and IRSA.
Unlike the provinces, it has no share in the profits earned from the hydro-electric power stations located in the territory. GB is not in the national grid, not even part of a regional grid. It does not even have a Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education and examinations are conducted by the Islamabad Board, he said and asked why? No wonder that the people of G-B not only feel deprived but also 'cheated'. He said that 12-member G-B Council, the supreme body, operates from Islamabad and the Council is manned by the bureaucracy of the federal government. Under the Rules of Business the powers of the Council are exercised in its name by the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan which regulates and controls the administration of GB directly.-PR
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