Panel formed to develop draft of GB reforms
islamabad — Attorney-General Anwar Mansoor Khan on Friday informed the Supreme Court that Gilgit-Baltistan could not be made a full-fledged province but would be accorded all powers like a province.
Appearing before a seven-judge larger bench headed by the chief justice hearing a case pertaining to the constitutional status of Gilgit-Baltistan, the attorney-general said the Gilgit-Baltistan government had been empowered in lawmaking and administration and moreover, a legal draft for granting it a province-like powers was being prepared which was in final stages.
The chief justice appreciated the efforts of the federal government and remarked “this is commendable” adding, that “the Gilgit-Baltistan should be granted the same
authority as other provinces have”.
The attorney-general who presented the proposed draft said time was required for its completion.
He said the draft bill seeks to hand authority over law enforcement and administrative matters over to the Gilgit-Baltistan government in line with the Constitution.
Justice Nisar said that he believed
that all the powers given to other provinces should also be given to Gilgit-Baltistan, adding that there will be a few problems only with regards to taxes.
On the occasion, the Gilgit-Baltistan deputy advocate-general complained to the bench that the draft had not been presented to the Gilgit-Baltistan government as yet. “We should be allowed to present our recommendations as well,” he added.
“Our effort is to approve all the demands of the people of GB,” the attorney-general responded.
The Supreme Court formed a committee to prepare the final draft of planned reforms for Gilgit-Baltistan. The committee formed will be headed by the attorney-general and include senior lawyers Aitzaz Ahsan, Salman Akram Raja, the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan secretary, Advocate Chaudhry Afrasiab and the GB law minister.
The bench directed the authorities to call a meeting in this regard at the attorney-general’s office on December 13, which would be headed by the attorney-general to finalise the draft bill. —