GILGIT, Aug 1: The Northern Areas Legislative Council has submitted a working paper on amendments to the Legal Framework Order for Northern Areas, 1994, to the federal government.

Sources said the Kashmir affairs and Northern Areas ministry had on July 17 sought recommendations from the council on the subject, which had been worked out by NALC Legal Committee Chairman Syed Jafar Shah.

The eight-point working paper forwarded to the Northern Areas administration included the demand for an autonomous setup on the pattern of Azad Jammu and Kashmir or an alternative provincial type of government.

The recommendations included the NALC’s naming as the Northern Areas Legislative Assembly.

The recommendations sought the replacement of the LFO with an interim constitution and representation in the federal cabinet in terms of Article 93 of the country’s Constitution.

The NALC recommended upgrading of the Northern Areas judiciary in accordance with Supreme Court’s directive of May 1999 and right of appeal before the apex court in terms of Article 185 of the Constitution or the establishment of a separate higher judicial forum in the region.

It recommended establishment of a separate public service commission and an upper house on the pattern of the AJK council in the region.