Disbanding Gilgit Baltistan Council: hazardous move for democracy

Gilgit Baltistan Council for some extent provides autonomy for the people of this region. But it has ceased. Prime Minister of Pakistan Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on February 15 directed the authorities concerned to abolish the Gilgit-Baltistan Council along with a similar council for Ghulam Jammu Kashmir.  It is notable that in the last month, there was a massive wave of violent protests in Gilgit Baltistan against Taxation by Government of Pakistan On which the Prime Minister of Pakistan tried to resolve by giving solace and assurance to do something in this issue.

The clear demand of this movement was, “without giving representation in the National Assembly of Pakistan”, how and by which authority taxation can be done? But instead of giving representation here, a little bit which available has been also snatched away.

The six members of the Gilgit-Baltistan Council elected from Gilgit –Baltistan Legislative Assembly have also expressed strong discontent over the Pakistan’s prime minister’s decision to abolish the body. In a joint statement issued, they termed the abolishment of Gilgit Baltistan Council against the interest of the people of Gilgit-Baltistan. The statement was signed by Arman Shah, Wazir Ikhlaq, Ashraf Sada, Sultan Ali Khan and Said Afzal, all members of the ruling PML-N, and independent Syed Abbas.

The statement said ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had constituted a parliamentary committee to make recommendations for settling the constitutional status of the region, but the body had recommended disbanding the GB Council. It said abolishing the council without first putting in place an alternative arrangement was not a pragmatic step.  (The reforms committee, which was formed by then prime minister Nawaz Sharif under the chairmanship of Sartaj Aziz in 2015, could not succeed in proposing major reforms in the area as the federal government rejected the suggestion of giving representation to GB in the National Assembly and Senate). Despite a period of three years and a repeated meeting with the stakeholders, the council could not introduce reforms due to an apparent opposition on part of the government of Gulam Kashmir. The statement also said “without providing the Gilgit Baltistan people representation in the parliament, abolishment of GB Council is not fair,”. The members feared that the current Gilgit Baltistan political set up was being roll backed without introducing the constitutional reforms.

The Gilgit-Baltistan Council has been established in May 2010, as per Article 33 of Gilgit-Baltistan (Empowerment & Self Governance) Order, 2009. It can legislate on 53 subjects as provided in Schedule III of the Order.

The GB Council, which controls important areas, like mining, water resources and tourism, is largely an unrepresentative body, constituted to keep the Gilgit –Baltistan Legislative Assembly in check, and, thus, negating the spirit of self-governance.

Background of “reforms”

After independence, for some decades, Gilgit-Baltistan remained under the Frontier Crimes Regulations (FCR) and in 1969, an eight-member Northern Areas Advisory Council (NAAC) was created but it was without any power and under the thumb of an administrator or resident.  Frontier crime regulations are draconian laws which no one can imagine that these kinds of “laws” still prevails in a “civilized nation”, even in 21st century.

A year later, it was renamed the Northern Areas Council and consisted of 16 members. During General Ziaul Haq’s martial law, Gilgit-Baltistan was declared the ‘zone e’ of martial law. During the same regime it was decided that the territory’s inhabitants would get an observer-like status in parliament but this somehow did not happen. In 1994, through a legal framework order, initially the chairman and vice-chairman of the council were created and later redesignated as chief executive and deputy chief executive. The council then comprised 24 directly elected members. Five years later, the Northern Areas Council was renamed the Northern Areas Legislative Assembly with more powers. In 2009, the PPP government introduced the Gilgit-Baltistan Empowerment and Self-Governance Order 2009 with fresh political, judicial and administrative reforms.

The Gilgit-Baltistan Council comprises of a Chairman (PM of Pakistan), Vice Chairman (Governor GB), Chief Minister Gilgit-Baltistan, Six members nominated by the Chairman, Six Members elected by Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly, Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs, and the Minister of State for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan (Ex-officio). In the council the federal government had the majority and wielded powers to influence legislation.

Pakistan has been a failed democracy. Army and Islamic fundamentalists have abducted democracy. Even now when the elected government is in power, but still there is no power to challenge the authority of the army.

In the shadow of army generals and religious fanatics, democracy has been shaken before it came into prominence. The two-nation theory on the basis of religion has proved its failure with the establishment of Bangladesh and many more ethno-nationalist movements within Pakistan growing up vehemently. Sindhi-Muhajir, Baloch and Pashtoon are prominent among them. This is the most fatal consequence of Pakistan's Punjab and Punjabi centric politics, which will punishable by its disintegration too.