ISLAMABAD: A committee formed to examine constitutional and administrative reforms held its first meeting here on Monday.

The meeting chaired by federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) Ali Amin Khan Gandapur was attended by federal Minster for Law Farogh Naseem, the GB governor, attorney general for Pakistan, federal secretaries of foreign affairs, defence and Kashmir affairs, chief secretary and law minister of GB and joint secretary of the GB Council.

The meeting discussed the issues relating to the constitutional and administrative empowerment of GB.

Mr Gandapur said that the government of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf believed in devolution of power to grass-roots level and the local government system of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was a clear reflection of this.

Decides to form sub-committee for detailed deliberations with all stakeholders

Underlining the importance of empowerment for GB, he said that the committee would examine the matter in the light of the GB Order 2018, Supreme Court’s Al-Jihad Trust findings, Sartaj Aziz Commi­ttee’s report, attorney general’s recommendations and the United Nations’ resolutions on the Kashmir dispute.

He said that he was in favour of giving maximum powers to GB people and ensuring the national interests of the country.

The committee agreed that it would propose maximum recommendations for constitutional and administrative empowerment for GB by keeping itself within its terms of reference.

In view of the importance of the matter, the committee decided to formulate a sub- committee headed by the attorney general for 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.

A seven-judge Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar had taken up a set of petitions challenging the GB Order 2018, GB Empowerment and Self Governance Order 2009 as well as the right of the people of the region to be governed through their chosen representatives.

The CJP acknowledged the sensitivity of the matter and observed that the court would commence regular hearing soon and decide the matter on its own in case the government did not pursue it.

The notification was presented before the apex court by Attorney General Anwar Mansoor. He stated that under the terms of reference the committee had been entrusted with the review of reforms in the light of the GB Order 2018, the judgement of the Supreme Court in the Al-Jihad Trust case 1999 and recommendations of the attorney general.

Published in Dawn, November 20th, 2018