PAKISTAN SET TO DECLARE OCCUPIED GILGIT-BALTISTAN A ‘PROVINCE’
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan government plans to make GilgitBaltistan the country’s fifth province, two years after powers of the Islamabad-controlled council for the region were transferred to a local assembly.
The government’s plans were outlined by the federal minister for Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan affairs, Ali Amin Gandapur, in Islamabad on Wednesday. He said the region will be accorded the status of a full-fledged province with constitutional rights such as representation in both houses of Parliament.
There was no immediate reaction to the minister’s remarks from Indian officials, though New Delhi has consistently opposed changes made in the disputed region by the Pakistan government. India claims GilgitBaltistan as part of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.
People familiar with developments said the Pakistani military establishment had been in touch with political parties regarding the changes. It was against the move earlier but had a change of heart in view of the changes in Jammu and Kashmir since August last year, they said. Imran Khan’s ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is backing the changes in view of upcoming elections in the area.
ISLAMABAD : The Pakistan government plans to make GilgitBaltistan the country’s fifth province, two years after powers of the Islamabad-controlled council for the region were transferred to a local assembly.
The government’s plans were outlined by the federal minister for Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan affairs, Ali Amin Gandapur, during an interaction with a group of journalists in Islamabad on Wednesday. He said the region will be accorded the status of a full-fledged province with constitutional rights such as representation in both houses of Parliament.
Prime Minister Imran Khan is expected to visit the region soon and make a formal announcement about the change, Gandapur was quoted as saying in reports in the Pakistani media.
“After consultation with all stakeholders, the federal government has decided in principle to give constitutional rights to Gilgit-Baltistan,” he said. “Our government has decided to deliver on the promise it made to the people there.”
There was no immediate reaction to the minister’s remarks from Indian officials, though New Delhi has consistently opposed changes made in the disputed region by the Pakistan government. India claims GilgitBaltistan as part of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.
Gandapur also said that subsidies and tax exemptions for the region wouldn’t be withdrawn after the grant of constitutional rights. “Until the people there stand on their feet, they will continue to enjoy this facility,” he said. People familiar with developments said the Pakistani military establishment had been in touch with political parties regarding the changes. Khan’s ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party is backing the changes with an eye on upcoming elections in Gilgit-Baltistan so that it can make political gains and form the next government in the region. Gandapur said the elections were likely to be held in mid-November.