GILGIT: Members from both the treasury and opposition in the Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly on Wednesday assailed the federal government’s ‘monopoly’ over the affairs of GB.

The GBLA unanimously passed a resolution demanding recruitment of locals on the vacant posts in GB Council’s secretariat in Islamabad. It

rejected the recent advertisement issued by GB Council secretariat seeking applications from candidates belonging to all areas of the country to fill the vacancies.

The resolution, tabled by Parliamentary Secretary Aurangzeb Khan, demanded re-advertisement of the posts.

Speaking on the matter in the house, ruling PML-N lawmaker Mohammad Amin also pointed out to the fact that outsiders had also been appointed on the vacant posts in the GB House Islamabad.

If GB people are not given job quota in the educational institutions in other provinces of the country, then why candidates from outside are recruited on the posts of GB Council, he asked.

Deputy Speaker Jaffarullah Khan demanded that action should be taken against the officials for depriving GB candidates of being appointed to the vacant posts in the council.

Opposition member Kacho Imtiaz Haider said GB lawmakers should protest the federal government’s monopoly over the affairs of the region. He said GB people had been protesting against levying of taxes by Islamabad on them without first determining their constitutional status, but their concerns were not addressed.

Minister for food Mohammad Shafiq said a protest letter should be sent to Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, who is chairman of the GB Council, asking him to reverse the recruitments.

Published in Dawn, November 23rd, 2017