The newly elected Gilgit‑Baltistan Assembly last week unanimously adopted a resolution urging the federal government to grant the region provisional provincial status. This demand is not new; the House has previously voiced similar calls, and the issue cuts across party, regional, and ethnic lines in GB. The resolution also sought constitutional and political rights for the people of the region and recommended that until provisional status is achieved, GB should be included in the NFC Award. Importantly, the lawmakers clarified that the demand for provisional status would be “without prejudice” to Pakistan’s principled position on the Kashmir dispute with India.

This caveat is significant. Concerns have often been raised that granting GB provincial status could undermine Pakistan’s stance on Kashmir. The Assembly’s resolution makes clear that such fears are misplaced. Equally noteworthy is the endorsement of the demand by the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, AJK chapter, which reflects the historic link between Kashmir and GB and underscores the legitimacy of the call for greater rights.

GB’s political journey has been complex since its people liberated the territory from Dogra rule in 1947‑48. Successive governments have taken incremental steps to bring the region closer to Pakistan. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto abolished feudal rule and reorganised the area as the Northern Areas. Later, Benazir Bhutto, Pervez Musharraf, Asif Zardari, and Nawaz Sharif all introduced measures to expand political and constitutional rights. Despite this progress, the demand today is clear and consistent: integration into Pakistan as a provisional province.

The matter, however, requires careful handling. While there is no dispute about the need to grant the people of GB full democratic rights, constitutional changes must be crafted in a way that does not compromise the Kashmir cause. A legally sound mechanism of integration, valid until the resolution of the Kashmir question, is essential. The Sartaj Aziz report already provides a blueprint for such an arrangement, and it can serve as the foundation for moving forward.

PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto‑Zardari has called for constitutional conventions in both GB and AJK to address these questions. AJK itself has been experiencing unrest over the issue of refugee seats in its legislature, highlighting the broader constitutional challenges in the region. Whether in GB or AJK, the underlying cause of discontent remains poor governance and the perception that the centre plays an outsized role in local affairs.

Lawmakers from GB, mainstream political parties, legal experts, and other stakeholders must come together to chart a path that satisfies the aspirations of GB’s people while safeguarding Pakistan’s national position. Denying GB’s population a voice in national affairs indefinitely would be unjust. A negotiated, legally sound solution is the only way forward.

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