GILGIT: Joint opposition in the Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly (GBLA) rejected the proposed draft of administrative and political reforms package, The Government Gilgit-Baltistan Order 2018, on Monday, reported a local media outlet.
The 2018 order will replace the existing Gilgit Baltistan (GB) Empowerment and Self Governance Order of 2009.
GB opposition parties announced to conduct a unified protest against the proposed reforms on May 12.
Opposition leaders including Mohammad Shafi Khan, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) Raja Jahanzeb Khan, Bibi Salima, Kacho Imtiaz Haider and Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) Javed Hussain termed the proposed package as an attempt to reign in powers of the GBLA and an attempt to further Islamabad’s direct rule over the area.
The opposition leaders vowed to resist the proposed reform order and demanded that Islamabad should settle GB’s constitutional status first and accede to the demand of GB’s representation in Pakistan’s parliament.
“A parliamentary committee led by Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Sartaj Aziz was established in October 2015 by the ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif, which had prepared recommendations for GB reforms,” said opposition leader Shafi Khan.
He also said that the move would allow Islamabad to impose illegal taxes on disputed territory.
PTI’s Jahanzeb said that no reform package for GB would be accepted without consulting the people.
