The federal government has stirred up a hornet's nest with its Gilgit-Baltistan Order, 2018, roundly rejected by the opposition. Highlighting some salient points of the new law in the GB Legislative Assembly recently, the then Prime Minister, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, said all subjects under the 18th Constitutional Amendment have been transferred to the Gilgit-Baltistan government. There would be no discrimination between the fundamental rights being enjoyed by residents of the region and those living in other parts of the country. Judges of the High Court and governor would be appointed from among the local people, and the area's people will be allotted a quota in the civil service. He also explained that the GB Council - a legislative body headed by the prime minister - will remain functional, but would deal only with federal subjects, having an advisory role "not executive or an overriding one." Indeed, the new law is a significant improvement on the GB Empowerment and Self-Governance Order of 2009 that it replaces.
Yet not surprisingly, it has drawn severe criticism from the opposition, which in a rare show of unity staged a walkout from the assembly before the PM's speech, whilst a complete strike was observed all over the region on the joint opposition's call. In fact, protest demonstrations have been going on since the government unveiled its 'reform package' via an executive order - seen as an affront by most people. As an angry legislator thundered inside the assembly, "how can GB be governed through orders?" Abbasi later argued that it did not require legislation through Parliament, otherwise the government could have done that since it enjoyed majority. Notably, the people of the area for long have been demanding GB be made a province of Pakistan. The reason behind the hesitation to do that arises from the fact that as per the UN resolutions, it is a part of the disputed territory of Kashmir. Hence it remains in a virtual limbo. Unlike the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) its residents do not have dual citizenship rights. They are genuinely upset over the latest law that gives them greater self-rule, but not all the rights to which those in Pakistan and AJK are entitled.
It is about time the issue of GB's constitutional position was resolved. It is unfair to keep the area's people in an indeterminate state. Granted that it cannot be made a province of Pakistan pending the settlement of the Kashmir issue, but there should be no difficulty in giving it the status AJK has. Its people must not be kept deprived of their rights for an indefinite period. Also, considering that India and the US have been raising objections to the CPEC passing through this region on the pretext of its 'disputed' status, it is all the more important for Islamabad to ensure GB becomes a stable and self-contended entity.