SARDAR SIKANDER SHAHEEN & ZULFIQAR AHMAD
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan’s visit to Gilgit-Baltistan where he announced provisional provincial status to GB has attracted strong backlash from opposition parties for violation of electoral code of conduct keeping in view that electoral laws in effect in Pakistan and GB territory bar visits of government officials in any constituency/area where election schedule has been announced.
On May 15, 2020, President of Pakistan Arif Alvi promulgated Gilgit-Baltistan (Elections and Caretaker Government) Amendment Order, 2020 to insert new Article 48-A in Gilgit-Baltistan Order, 2018 which stipulates that all rules, regulations and bylaws that are in force in Pakistan shall be adopted in the territory of GB.
This implies that the Election Commission of Pakistan’s code of conduct that bars visits of government officials in any constituency where elections scheduled is fully applicable in GB where elections affairs are overseen by Election Commission of GB.
Although, the ECP has no jurisdiction in GB and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), both with separate Election Commissions, the promulgation of Gilgit-Baltistan (Elections and Caretaker Government) Amendment Order, 2020 has made it binding on GB to implement all electoral laws that are in effect in Pakistan.
In this context, the PM’s visit to GB on Sunday ahead of GB Legislative Assembly elections on November 15 has earned criticism from opposition parties. Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has written a letter to Chief Election Commissioner GB Raja Shehbaz Khan to take action.
However, the CEC GB defended the PM earlier on Monday saying Imran Khan paid a visit to the valley in connection with Independence Day.
Talking to journalists, the CEC rejected criticism that the PM’s announcement to grant provisional provincial status to GB ahead of the elections is tantamount to pre-poll rigging to pave the way for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) electoral victory.
The CEC said that as head of the government, the Prime Minister’s visit could not be taken as a political move.
“If there are any political gatherings organized by the government official like rallies in the said constituencies, the law will spring into action,” he said. “We will not tolerate any questions on transparency of the electoral process as we are determined to hold free and fair elections in the GB,” the CEC GB said adding that the PM did not announce any development package for the region owing to the Election Commission’s restriction due to the upcoming elections.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Azad Jammu and Kashmir chapter led by PM Raja Farooq Haider criticised the announcement by the Prime Minister to grant provisional provincial status to GB claiming the action might weaken Pakistan’s principled stance on Kashmir at the United Nations.
However, government officials termed the grant of provincial status a reflection of the wishes of the people of GB.
When contacted, GB caretaker Law Minister Muhammad Yaseen said that the proposal to grant provisional provincial status to GB was the outcome of an extensive study and discussion by a high-level committee constituted by the previous government headed by former deputy chairman Planning Commission of Pakistan Sartaj Aziz, adding that a consensus was developed among all stakeholders that GB would be granted provisional province status pending the resolution of the Kashmir dispute.
“This is the right time to grant the status to GB and delay in the process would benefit the country’s enemies,” he added.
Senior PTI GB leader Dr Muhammad Iqbal said that the delay in granting due rights to GB would fuel frustration among young population of the area.
“We assure our Kashmiri brethren and other stakeholders that granting provisional provincial status to GB will not affect the Kashmir issue. We would be taking part in a plebiscite whenever it takes place,” said Dr Iqbal.
He said that representation to GB in National Assembly and Senate, as proposed by the previous government of PML-N, would reduce the sense of deprivation of the people of GB.
He also said the Supreme Court, in its landmark decision regarding reforms in GB, made it clear that granting provisional provincial status to GB would not affect the cause of Kashmir.
An official of caretaker government in GB told Business Recorder that Election Commission GB never initiated action against the participation of the PM in GB’s Independence Day celebrations in the past. Nawaz Sharif attended GB’s Independence Day celebrations when PML-N was in power, he said.
“The electoral laws bar political activities by government officials ahead of elections in any area. The CEC does not consider PM’s participation in Independence Day a violation of code of conduct and it is his prerogative,” he said adding that this can be challenged in superior courts and Election Commission GB is bound to follow any order issued by Supreme Court of Pakistan.
