GILGIT: The Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) government has announced to resist any undemocratic move by the federal government against its chief minister or government.
The region’s law minister, Syed Sohail Abbas, has rejected the federal minister’s statements against GB Chief Minister Khalid Khurshid Khan for allegedly using the region’s police and resources for security of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan.
Mr Abbas said allegations levelled against the GB government were baseless, adding that the region’s police personnel were on security of the GB chief minister and ministers in Zaman Park, Lahore.
He said Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) Usman Anwar had denied that the GB police and Punjab police clashed outside Imran Khan’s Zaman Park residence in Lahore.
The GB chief minister also said that the region’s police personnel were for his security in Lahore and not for the security of Imran Khan.
He added that the chief minister and other ministers had a right to go to Lahore with official protocol and security of police to meet party chairman Imran Khan.
“The GB government did not commit any unlawful act and the federal government has no ground to take any legal and constitutional action against Chief Minister Khalid Khurshid Khan. Gilgit-Baltistan is a sensitive region, and it is governed through GB Order 2018. Under these rules, the federal government has no authority to take action against the region’s government,” Syed Sohail Abbas said.
He said there were no grounds for imposition of emergency in the region under article 102 of GB Order 2018.
He denied allegations levelled against the Gilgit-Baltistan police of firing teargas in Islamabad during the hearing of Imran Khan in Judicial Complex on Saturday.
The GB minister said tthe federal government blocked development, non development funds and wheat subsidy funds for the region, adding that people have been facing shortage of funds and development work has been stopped.
He said the central government was also planning on increasing wheat prices in Gilgit-Baltistan, adding that the federal government deprived GB’s people from their due share in the budget only for political differences.
Meanwhile, according to a statement issued by Ali Taj, spokesperson of the GB chief minister, despite repeated rebuttals by chief minister and IGP Punjab, the constant attack on GB government and police by the federal government is very unfortunate and condemnable. He said targeting a highly sensitive region of the federation is akin to weakening the state for political interests. “The federal ministers and their stooges should apologise to the people of GB and its police department,” said Ali Taj.
He warned of serious consequences if the federal government embarked upon a misadventure with the elected GB government.
Any amendment in GB Order 2018 was possible only after approval by Supreme Court of Pakistan, he said, adding it will be an undemocratic move to overthrow PTI’s Gilgit-Baltistan government which currently enjoys a two-third majority in the GB Assembly.
He added that the federal government has no position to table a vote of no confidence against Glgit-Baltistan chief minister as the PTI and allied party members are united and have expressed confidence in the chief minister.
Published in Dawn, March 20th, 2023
