<p class="title">Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has rejected the Opposition's protest against a new order relating to administrative control over Gilgit-Baltistan, saying he has no authority over the region after the devolution of all the powers to local representatives.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Pakistan's Cabinet on May 21 approved Gilgit-Baltistan Order 2018 which was also endorsed by the assembly of the region. The order is being seen as Islamabad's efforts towards incorporating the disputed region as its fifth province.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Civil rights groups in Pakistan have criticised the order. A complete strike was observed across Gilgit-Baltistan yesterday on the call of the joint Opposition to protest against the order.</p>.<p class="bodytext">India yesterday summoned Pakistan's Deputy High Commissioner Syed Haider Shah in New Delhi and lodged a strong protest over Islamabad's latest move, saying any action to alter the status of any part of the territory under its "forcible and illegal occupation".</p>.<p class="bodytext">The order has also sparked several protests in the region.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Abbasi said that under the order, all the powers have been transferred to the people of Gilgit-Baltistan who will enjoy similar rights which the people of other provinces have without any discrimination.</p>.<p class="bodytext">He said his government was ready to accommodate more demands from the representatives of the area.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Abassi said that he as well as minister for Kashmir Affairs had no authority over the region after the devolution of powers.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“From today I as the prime minster and Barjees Tahir as federal minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan have become powerless as far as the affairs of Gilgit-Baltistan are concerned. All the powers have been shifted to the people of Gilgit-Baltistan and no one can abolish the powers which we have transferred to them,” Abassi said while addressing a joint session of the Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) Assembly and GB Council yesterday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">He said once powerful GB Council would function as an advisory body only.</p>.<p class="bodytext">He said he was amazed that some opposition parties were protesting against the law.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"If they had listened, they would have noticed that all powers had already been transferred to local representatives under the Gilgit-Baltistan Order 2018," he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Referring to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the premier expressed hope that the region would be the most prosperous and developed area of the country under the project.</p>.<p class="bodytext">He said the international issues related to the region might go on, but it was a proud moment for the government as the people of Gilgit-Baltistan would have same rights which the people of other parts of the country enjoyed.</p>.<p class="bodytext">When Abbasi was about to start his speech, Leader of the Opposition in GB Assembly Mohammad Shafi Khan stood up from his seat and interrupted the CM to say Gilgit-Baltistan people had principally rejected the order.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“How can GB be governed through orders?” he asked.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Khan announced that the opposition parties had decided principally not to accept any order without constitutional protection.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Other opposition members including Javed Hussain of Pakistan Peoples Party, Raja Jahanzeb of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and Nawaz Naji of Balawaristan National Front stood up and shouted the slogan “orders not accepted”. The opposition lawmakers also tore the copies of the agenda.</p>.<p class="bodytext">During the protest, a scuffle erupted between the opposition and ruling party members. The opposition parties later staged a walkout.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Following the walkout by the opposition, the prime minister began his speech.</p>
<p class="title">Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has rejected the Opposition's protest against a new order relating to administrative control over Gilgit-Baltistan, saying he has no authority over the region after the devolution of all the powers to local representatives.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Pakistan's Cabinet on May 21 approved Gilgit-Baltistan Order 2018 which was also endorsed by the assembly of the region. The order is being seen as Islamabad's efforts towards incorporating the disputed region as its fifth province.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Civil rights groups in Pakistan have criticised the order. A complete strike was observed across Gilgit-Baltistan yesterday on the call of the joint Opposition to protest against the order.</p>.<p class="bodytext">India yesterday summoned Pakistan's Deputy High Commissioner Syed Haider Shah in New Delhi and lodged a strong protest over Islamabad's latest move, saying any action to alter the status of any part of the territory under its "forcible and illegal occupation".</p>.<p class="bodytext">The order has also sparked several protests in the region.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Abbasi said that under the order, all the powers have been transferred to the people of Gilgit-Baltistan who will enjoy similar rights which the people of other provinces have without any discrimination.</p>.<p class="bodytext">He said his government was ready to accommodate more demands from the representatives of the area.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Abassi said that he as well as minister for Kashmir Affairs had no authority over the region after the devolution of powers.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“From today I as the prime minster and Barjees Tahir as federal minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan have become powerless as far as the affairs of Gilgit-Baltistan are concerned. All the powers have been shifted to the people of Gilgit-Baltistan and no one can abolish the powers which we have transferred to them,” Abassi said while addressing a joint session of the Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) Assembly and GB Council yesterday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">He said once powerful GB Council would function as an advisory body only.</p>.<p class="bodytext">He said he was amazed that some opposition parties were protesting against the law.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"If they had listened, they would have noticed that all powers had already been transferred to local representatives under the Gilgit-Baltistan Order 2018," he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Referring to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the premier expressed hope that the region would be the most prosperous and developed area of the country under the project.</p>.<p class="bodytext">He said the international issues related to the region might go on, but it was a proud moment for the government as the people of Gilgit-Baltistan would have same rights which the people of other parts of the country enjoyed.</p>.<p class="bodytext">When Abbasi was about to start his speech, Leader of the Opposition in GB Assembly Mohammad Shafi Khan stood up from his seat and interrupted the CM to say Gilgit-Baltistan people had principally rejected the order.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“How can GB be governed through orders?” he asked.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Khan announced that the opposition parties had decided principally not to accept any order without constitutional protection.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Other opposition members including Javed Hussain of Pakistan Peoples Party, Raja Jahanzeb of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and Nawaz Naji of Balawaristan National Front stood up and shouted the slogan “orders not accepted”. The opposition lawmakers also tore the copies of the agenda.</p>.<p class="bodytext">During the protest, a scuffle erupted between the opposition and ruling party members. The opposition parties later staged a walkout.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Following the walkout by the opposition, the prime minister began his speech.</p>