ISLAMABAD: The Attorney General for Pakistan, Anwar Mansoor Khan, on Fridayinformed the Supreme Court that Gilgit-Baltistan could not be made afull-fledged province, but it would be accorded all the powers of aprovince.A seven-judge larger bench, headed by the Chief Justice SaqibNisar, heard a case pertaining to the constitutional status of GB.
During the hearing, the attorney general apprised that the GB governmentwas empowered in lawmaking and administration and moreover, the legal draftfor granting it a province-like powers is in final stages.
The chief justice appreciated the efforts of the federal government andsaid this is commendable, adding: “GB should be granted the same authorityas other provinces have.” Meanwhile, the GB deputy advocate generalcomplained to the bench that the draft was not given to them till yet.
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“We should be permitted to present our recommendations as well,” heappealed. Subsequently, the bench directed the authorities to call ameeting on this subject at the attorney general’s office on December 13,and it would be headed by the attorney general to finalise the draft bill.The committee comprises senior lawyers Aitzaz Ahsan, Salman Akram Raja,Chaudhry Afrasiab, GB law minister and Kashmir Affairs secretary.
