In order to give constitutional status and to bring the residents of northern area in to main stream and to get equal opportunity in development, the Government of Pakistan has recently announced a constitution package and has changed its nomenclature as Gilgit-Bultistan. The package is extensively under discussion amongst various civil society groups in Gilgit-Bultistan as well as all over Pakistan.

Sungi Human Rights programme had organized political education seminars in Chilas, Gahgooch Hunza, Sost and Sakradu. A team of Sungi comprised Mukhtar Javed Manager Human Rights Programme, Mohammad Taj Manager Social

Mobilization programme, Omar Javed Regional Coordinator Sungi and Gunlaz Sheikh Coordinator Policy advocacy Programme facilitated the seminars. 

Objective:

The objective of the seminars was to educate people about the new constitutional package and motivate them take part in forthcoming election.

Main Findings of the seminars:

1.    In Diamir district generally people don’t use their right to vote due to less interest in the election process and here is trend to buy votes.

2.     Woman can’t use their right to vote in this area. When group was probed on the issue, it transpired that due to men domination and non-availability of women polling booths was main reasons.

3.     In same area another way to taking votes is to go door to door and use blood relationships and friendship. Candidates go friends and relative’s home and even give them God’s or Holi Quran’s sake to take votes.

4.     In Ghizar and Sost the situation was different people were more educated and can understand the situation.  They wanted to take advantage positively from this opportunity which they have been given recently in the name of constitutional package.

5.     People of Hunza have wider area and less population like Nagar (sub division of Hunza) but have been given only one seat in legislation assembly while Nagar has two. They were expecting it in this package and remain deprived.

 Constitutional Package:
Main points of package on which people have their concern:

·       Appointment of Fedral information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira as a Governor  is viewed as illegal as article 20 and 8 of constituion clearly mentioned that the Governor shall not hold any office of profit in the service of Gilgit-Baltistan or of Pakistan nor occupy any other position carrying the right to remuneration of rending of service.

·       According to the order Governor should be local and none local, which is showing Governments double standared.

·       Gilgit- Baltistan Council is more powerful than the Legislative Assembly and according to article 47 clause 3 of the order Gilgit-Baltistan assembly, under forth schedule it has the same powers as the previous order.

·       All subjects of forth schedule are copied as it is from Musharaf’s period even its serial numbers have not been changed. In this order only eleven articles have been added and council is also empowered to legislation over them which are not valued additions.

·       There is no mention of people of Gilgit-Baltistan.  The order talked about the area (28 thousand square miles Area). it is not clear that 2 million people there are citizens of Pakistan or Gilgit-Baltistan? If they are citizen of Gilgit-Baltistan then whether it is a government or not? Then the people should have its own identity cards, domicile, nationality and citizenship of Gilgit-Baltistan.
 

·       Under this order Freedom of Association is restricted which is gross violation of the rights of the people in the region.

·       According article 53 class 3 laws made by assembly has been prevented, under this article Governor can reconsidere any law approved by assembly ad Governor can use this article on the direction of federation and can violate fundamental rights of the people.

·       According article 60 referred to the constitution of Gilgit-Baltistan Supreme Appellate court, referred the Supreme Appellate Courts to be the highest forum of Appeal. In this way free courts are also remained an uncompleted dream.

·       Article 47 clause (2.c) entruste powers to the Council to amend any existing Laws or adopt new Law in force in Pakistan.

·       According article 52, a bill passed by the council shall not require assent of the Governor and shall, upon its authentication by the chairman of the Council, become law and called an Act of the Council.

·       According Third schedule all powers including legislation on water reservoirs and minerals have been given to council. It seems like under this order Government of Pakistan grab the power which otherwise should be given to the Legislative Assembly.    

·       The future of this package is in dark because according to article 93, 94, 95 only Federal Government may, by notified order, amend the provision of this order. In case of conflict between the Laws of Pakistan and the Laws farmed under this order, the Law of Pakistan will prevail.