First meeting of committee on reform in GB scheduled after expiry of timeframe

ISLAMABAD: While the timeframe given for proposing reforms in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) has expired, the committee constituted by Prime Minister Imran Khan for making recommendations regarding granting provisional provincial status to GB has scheduled its first meeting on March 11, 2021.
The prime minister, following his announcement in Gilgit last year, had constituted a high-powered 12- member committee to discuss the legal, historic and political aspects of granting provincial status to GB.
Interestingly, the committee, despite its notification in December 2020, was yet to meet to discuss the issue despite the fact that it was given the time frame of 60 days.
According to an official, the committee would now meet on Thursday to discuss the issue. It would be the first ever meeting of the committee since its formation.
“The Prime Minister of Pakistan has been pleased to constitute the committee to work on mainstreaming provisional provincial status of Gilgit-Baltistan,” the notification said.
The committee, headed by Minister for Kashmir Affairs & Gilgit Baltistan Ali Amin Khan Gandapur, would comprise federal minister for law & justice, GB chief minister, the attorney general for Pakistan (AGP), Ministry of Foreign Affairs secretary, Ministry of Defence secretary, Ministry of Finance secretary, Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs secretary, Ministry of Kashmir Affairs member, GB chief secretary, co-opted members from National Security Institutions, and GB Council joint secretary.
As per the notification, Terms of Reference (ToRs) have also been set for the committee, under which it would prepare a report regarding giving provisional provincial status to GB in light of United Nations resolutions on Kashmir.
The committee would also keep in view the country’s principled stance on Kashmir and the Supreme Court (SC) of Pakistan’s decision on GB reforms while giving its recommendation.
According to sources, the committee would also consider the historic documents and findings of previous committees and forums on matters.
The Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly (GBLA) would also pass a unanimous resolution soon demanding an early granting of provisional provincial status, a longstanding demand of the people of the area.
PM Imran, during his last visit to Gilgit, had also said that it was the government’s top priority to grant the provisional provincial status to GB as promised earlier.
It is noteworthy that a high-powered committee formed by the previous government had already worked on the subject for two years, the opposition pointed out.
Earlier, Gandapur had claimed that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government was going to give provisional provincial status to GB as per the demand of the people.
He had said that his government has consulted the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government, Hurriyat leadership, international experts, and all other stakeholders on whether or not giving provisional provincial status to GB will adversely affect Pakistan’s stance on Kashmir.
He had added that the unanimous view on the matter is that giving provisional provincial status to GB will not have negative consequences.
Furthermore, the minister had said that opposition was partaking in dirty politics over this matter as it will require a constitutional amendment, which needs two-third support of the parliament and it is not possible without the cooperation of the opposition.