PR No. 104 Islamabad: November 19, 2018

Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan Ali Amin Khan Gandapur chaired the first meeting of the Committee to examine the constitutional and administrative reforms for Gilgit-Baltistan, here in Islamabad today. Federal Minster for Law Farogh Naseem, Governor Gilgit-Baltistan, Attorney General of Pakistan, Federal Secretary Foreign affairs, Federal Secretary Defense, Federal Secretary Kashmir Affairs, Chief Secretary Gilgit-Baltistan, Law Minister Gilgit-Baltistan and Joint Secretary Gilgit-Baltistan Council also attended the meeting. The meeting discussed the issues relating to the constitutional and administrative empowerment of Gilgit-Baltistan. The Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs said that the current Federal government of Pakistan Tehreek i Insaaf believed in delegation of power to grass root level, in principle. He said, the local government system of Khyber Pukhtunkawa is the clear reflection of the current government’s policies, where powers were delegated to grass root level in order to solve problems of people at local level. Underlining the importance of empowerment for Gilgit-Baltistan, he said that the Committee would observe the matter in the light of Gilgit-Baltistan order 2018, Supreme Court’s Al- Jihad Trust findings, Sartaj Aziz Committee’s Report, Attorney General’s recommendations and the UN’s resolution’s on Kashmir dispute. He said that he was in favor of delegating maximum powers to people of Gilgit-Baltistan and ensuring the national interests of the country. The Committee agreed that it would propose maximum recommendations for constitutional and administrative empowerment for Gilgit-Baltistan by keeping itself within its terms of reference. Observing the importance of the matter; the Committee decided to formulate a sub- committee headed by the Attorney General of Pakistan for detailed deliberations with all stakeholders in this regard. The Committee also decided that the sub-committee would meet daily and submit its findings to the main Committee, next week.

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