April 20, 2007	Friday	Rabi-us-Sani 02, 1428

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GILGIT, April 19: A proposal to allow separate benches for opposition members in the Northern Areas Legislative Council has been rejected by the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Northern Areas.

Sources privy to the development said the idea was floated in a proposal to amend the Northern Areas Legal Framework Order of 1994.

They said that the proposal was sent to the federal ministry for approval. Amendments to the legal framework order are ineffective without the approval of the KANA ministry, they said.

The proposal had also called for the formation of separate benches for opposition members besides giving the opposition leader the same perks and privileges enjoyed by NALC advisors.

The ministry, it was learnt, had turned down the proposals without assigning any reason.

Currently, there is no distinction between treasury and opposition benches in the 36-member NALC.

Politicians have demanded of the Kashmir affairs ministry to reconsider its decision and allow the inclusion of opposition benches in the NALC, making its composition democratic.

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