Reform package for NAs receives wide applause
	Saturday, 29 Aug, 2009 11:13 pm
GILGIT : People across Gilgit-Baltistan including public representatives, ulema, notables, political leaders and intellectuals have widely welcomed the new Gilgit Baltistan Empowerment and Self Governance Order, 2009. The high-powered Committee under the chairmanship of Minister for Kashmir and Northern Areas (KANA) prepared the reforms package to provide autonomy to the area. Syed Mehdi Shah President PPP Gilgit Baltistan, Haji Fida Muhammad Nashad Member NAs Assembly Raja Jalal Hussain, Chairman District council Skardu, Ahmad Ali Chairman Municipal Committee Skardu said the package would go a long way in development and empowerment of people of the area. Senior Parliamentarian of Gilgit-Baltistan Haji Fida Mohammad Nashad expressed satisfaction over the package, saying it was a landmark decision that would swiftly address the grievances of the public in this region. Talking to APP, Haji Fida Mohammad Nashad, who is also the parliamentary leader of PML-Q in Northern Areas Legislative Assembly, said it was a longstanding demand of the people of the area, which was fulfilled by the present government. While senior politician and President PPP District Gilgit, Mohammad Mosa congratulated the people of Gilgit-Baltistan and thanked the federal government for the historic decision. Talking to APP, he said the package was prepared after lengthy consultations with all stakeholders and it was fulfilling all requirements of the area. He said as a result of the package the area would enjoy autonomy and an independent judiciary and would protect fundamental rights of the people. He said it was only Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) takes care of the people of Gilgit-Baltistan because it took always revolutionary decisions in the history of the area. He said all the major improvements for Northern Areas were made during the period of PPP including the first Northern Areas Council Legal Framework Order 1974-75 by Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and further democratisation through Northern Areas Legal Framework Order 1994 by Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto. Addressing a big gathering of notables, workers of PPP here at Shaheed Chowk, former MNA Legislative Assembly and President Peoples Party Astore District, Muhammad Naseer Khan hailed the federal government for announcing the package for the Gilgit-Baltistan region. He said that the people of this region had been deprived since long of their due rights, but today’s announcement of the present government, had proved that it was a democratic government and sincere for the progress and prosperity of the people of this area. A member Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly, leader Muslim Leaque-Q, Dr Muzafar Railey and MNA Nasrullah Khan while talking to APP here said that the decision of the provincial like set up taken by PPP government, has won the hearts and minds of the people of this region. The President Muslim Leaque-N and former MNA Legislative Assembly, NAs Mahboob Ali Khan while talking about the decision said: “We expressed the hope that the announcement would prove helpful for the people of the area.” According to the order’s salient features, the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly will formulate its own Rules of Procedures, while legislation on various subjects pertinent to governance will be done by the Council and Assembly in their respective jurisdiction. The area would be given full rights as Azad Jammu and Kashmir, however it could not be given provincial status as per the Constitution. The Order has fifteen major parts, while the new name of Northern Areas of Pakistan shall be Gilgit-Baltistan as proposed under Article-2(f). There shall be a Governor of Gilgit-Baltistan as proposed under Article-20 and shall be appointed by the President of Pakistan. Till the election of the new legislative Assembly, Federal Minister for KANA will act as the Governor. The chief minister will be elected by the Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly, who will be assisted by six ministers. There shall be a provision of two advisors to the Chief Minister. The Legislative assembly will have directly elected 24 members, besides six women and three technocrats seats. The decision will empower the Gilgit-Baltistan Council and Assembly to make laws. The subject under which the Assembly shall now have power to make law has increased from 49 to 61 while the Council shall have 55 subjects. To empower the Council and the Assembly on financial matters, there shall be a Council Consolidated Fund under article 54, and Gilgit-Baltistan Consolidated Fund under article 55. Regarding annual budget, he said a detailed item-wise budget shall be presented before the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly as being practiced in Pakistan and shall be accordingly voted upon as suggested in Article 56. The Chief Judge of Supreme Appellate Court shall be appointed by the Chairman of the Council on the Advice of the Governor and other Judges shall be appointed by the Chairman on the Advice of Governor after seeking views of the Chief Judge. The Chief Judge and Judges of the Chief Court shall be appointed by the Chairman of the Council on the advice of the Governor on the same pattern as it is being practiced in AJK. The number of judges had been increased from three to five. The tenure of the present judges of the Supreme Judiciary has been protected in the draft. Another step forward to empower the people of the areas, is the establishment of Gilgit-Baltistan Public Service Commission and Gilgit-Baltistan Services under Article-80 and 81. Auditor General Gilgit-Baltistan will be appointed by the Governor on the advice of Council as the case in AJK. There shall be a Chief Election Commissioner under Article-82 as well as Auditor General besides emergency provisions under article-83 and 87 respectively.