Gilgit-Baltistan assembly adopts unanimous resolution demanding provisional provincial status

A vehicle drives past campaign flags of different political parties ahead of the legislative assembly elections in the city of Gilgit, Gilgit Baltistan on Nov. 9, 2020. (REUTERS)

• GB has never been granted full inclusion by Pakistan over fears it would jeopardize Islamabad’s stance that all of Kashmir is disputed territory
• The Gilgit-Baltistan local assembly has few powers, National Assembly and Senate have no representation from the northern region

ISLAMABAD: The Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly unanimously adopted a joint resolution on Tuesday, requesting Prime Minister Imran Khan and the federal government to grant provisional provincial status to the northern area and provide suitable representation to it in the country’s parliament and other state institutions.
The resolution was moved by Chief Minister Khalid Khurshid Khan in the third session of the assembly. He was supported by various opposition politicians.
The Gilgit-Baltistan assembly asked the government to table a constitutional amendment bill for that purpose and get it approved by parliament.
It said the bill should be drafted in a way that it should uphold Pakistan’s “principled stance” on the Kashmir issue, adding that the people of Gilgit-Baltistan would “continue to render moral and political support” to the residents of Indian-administered Kashmir.
Pakistan granted political autonomy to the region in 1999 and allowed it to have a legislative assembly but Pakistani governments have been reluctant to declare it a fifth province. The Supreme Court declared the residents of Gilgit-Baltistan as Pakistani citizens in May 1999 and instructed the government to ensure their constitutional and fundamental rights.
GB locals fought pro-India forces and opted to join Pakistan in 1948. But since then Gilgit-Baltistan has not been granted full inclusion by the Pakistani constitution over fears doing so would jeopardize Islamabad’s international stance that all of Kashmir is disputed territory.
The local assembly has few powers. Pakistan’s National Assembly and Senate have no representation from Gilgit-Baltistan, and the region receives only a fraction of the national budget.