N. As chief loses Sost dry port battle
By Zulfiqar Ali Khan
HUNZA, Oct 27: The trustees of Sost Dry Port won a long-drawn battle against the former management after the Northern Areas Chief Court rejected the objections of Chief Executive Ghazanfar Ali Khan against the recently-held election to the port’s board of directors.
The two-member bench comprising Justice Sahib Khan and Justice Muzaffar Ali held the election to be “legal, transparent and according to the direction of the court.” The bench also notified the result of the election held on October 6, according to which Afsar Jan was elected chairman, Hoor Shah senior vice-chairman and Raza Mohammad vice-chairman of the Silk Route Dry Port Trust. Mr Afsar Jan got 77 out of 133 votes against only one vote cast in favour of Mr Ghazanfar. The civil judge of Aliabad conducted the election.
The new chairman has announced that the names of all shareholders will be included in the trust deed and from now onwards recruitments in the port will be made strictly on merit.
He accused Salim Khan of illegally acquiring a loan of Rs50 million from the National Bank of Pakistan in the name of the port development by faking the signatures of seven Pakistani and Chinese directors and management personnel.
With the chief court’s verdict, the nine-year controversy between the trustees, mostly poor people and community organisations, and Mr Ghazanfar Ali Khan and his family over the management of the dry port trust has apparently come to an end. DAILY DAWN
The trustees, in particular the people of Gojal-Hunza, have heaved a sigh of relief. Some of the trustees hoped that the new management would probe the irregularities and alleged embezzlement of millions of rupees committed by the former management and recover the money from them.
They also hoped that the new management would run the affairs of the port efficiently and with transparency.
Mr Ghazanfar and his supporters saw the writing on the wall and did not participate in the election. He filed a petition with the chief court to postpone the polls for six months. But the court rejected the plea and ordered the civil judge Hunza to conduct the election according to schedule.
The dispute erupted when after taking over as deputy chief executive in 2004, Mr Ghazanfar started misusing his powers and allegedly misappropriated port revenues.
Moreover, he did not convene any board meeting causing frustration among the shareholders. He also deprived the 124 shareholders and 147 landowners of their rights and occupied the port forcefully with the help of local administration to turn the trust into a family property.
come on guys,, this is over now,,, yes he lost the election,, and we all heared that. what is new here?
Welldone Zulfiqar…great…..that we always want to read and listen, the new is here that agian the system which was imposed on the people of Gojal, ended here, 1974 and 2008.
http://www.mountainvoices.org/pa_th_politics.asp.html
This perhaps is beginning of an end!
The new Board of Trustees and people at helms of the dry-port affairs are expected to do a better job, much – much better, than what their predecessors did during the last 8-9 years time.
It was ironical that the real investors on their investment in millions did not get a single penny as dividend in the last so many years; whereas the so called high-ups without any real investments milked the port in millions. This is what some people would call ‘a total rip off, breach of trust, exploitation through abuse of powers, etc… to say the least’.
Best wishes to the new Trustees
LAZIM HAY K HUM B DAIKHYNGAY……..
…..we should close this chapter now..we should keep eye on the new electives,wether they r loyal to their obligation or not..what z their future prospects….we should not blame Mir Ghazamfar only,there r many ill-wishers who are involved n d misappropiate use of funds n development projects……….
….if Salim khan has aquired a loan of 500 million illegally,one should investigate n proove……otherwise it will b just a RUMOUR which z most common among the ignorant n illiterate youth…i think we r neither illiterate nor ignorant, once we commnet a STATEMENT we proove it PRACTICALLY…….how?
WHAT THE NEW MANAGEMENT HAS PLANNED WE WANT TO DEBATE AND SHARE????? NO MORE COMMENTS ON THE PAST EXCEPT REMEMBERANCE AND LESSON LEARNING. PLEASE TELL THE NEW MANAGEMENT DON’T BIFARCATE THE WIRES ON LANGUAGES, SECTS CAST 7 CREED.
BRING THE PLANNING FOR FUTURE PACE TOWARDS A GREEN PATCH AND DESIRE OF A FARIE MEDOW.
ONCE AGAIN REQUEST TO THE NEW MANAGEMENT TO INNITIATE SOME CONCRETE STEPS AS ALREADY SHARED ON THIS GREAT PAMIRE TIME—–
WE SUCH A PROFESSIONAL THAT THEY ARE WORKING ON THE WORLD LEVEL IN THEIR RESPECTIVE FIELDS. TELL THE MANAGEMENT TO PUT SOME THING/PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE OF SDP.
We r expecting the new team to investigate the robbery made by his son and prove him guilty otherwise the people will not forgive the new trustees.
This way we can stop that family stealing the wealth of the area as they been doing for centuries. This family is now addicted of robberies and misuse of power. STOP THEM NOW before it is 2 late.
Good reporting Zulfiqar
Dear BOD: Finance is the back bone of your esteemed organization. It is your duty and responsibility to maximise the wealth of shareholders. Shareholders need nothing just return on their investment and where as the Trustees required proper function of the port so that they could easily handle their import and export transactions. So plz make sure the audit of the Port and also from here on, the finance department must be equiped with honest, efficient and skillfull consultants, managers and analysts, who must submit proper financial reports to the board and all the stakeholders at least annually.
The trustees should file a case in superior courts and put his property on auction to recover that huge money.
90 % local budget is spent on maintenance of his property, constructing walls around his house. He never paid bills for electricity and sewerage. We poor people just watching him drinking our blood. Bring him and his family to people’s court.
Dear all,
The game is not over yet. The former cabinet is trying his best their sabotage the process. In this regard they are in contact with Chinese partners to develop misunderstandings. The news about the loan taken by Saleem is not any propaganda.
Some of the comments have suggested to stop and close this chapter however I suggest that the contributions of media and especially PT remained vital to create awareness among community in order to save a strategic loss for the community. The media should continue to highlight the issue till the time the deserving stakeholders get their due rights.
The role of the local media especially K2 remained very negative throughout this period of time. SO who will talk about the interests of the community if not PT???
Pls pls and pls continue their efforts till the time the trustees get their due rights.
Wajid
Hunza
Guys,, PT is doing a fantastic job,, my only request is to keep it neutral. one must not get the impresssion that PT represents a certain school of thought.
can Any one introduce these people who they are and where from they are
Afsar Jan was elected chairman,
Hoor Shah senior vice-chairman
and
Raza Mohammad vice-chairman of the Silk Route Dry Port Trust.
Let me tell you who are the guys !!
Mr Afsar Jan belongs to Sost Nazimabad, he is the collective landowner of the dry port and assumes office since 23rd March 2008. He was elected by land and share holders
Mr Hoor shah belongs to Karimabad Hunza, he is the president of Pakistan Muslim League(N) Hunza Chapter. He is the shareholder of Sost Dry Port. He was also eclected by voting took place in karimabad on 23rd March 2008 by land and share holders.
Mr Raza Muhammad a former teacher at AKESp is from Gircha Gojal. He is also landowner and was selected as senior-vice president on 23rd march in a local hotel in karimabad by majority of land and share holders.
Dont make much noises if u wana do sumthing for ure nation.. just do it as u think tht in past thy can,t.BE Quite nd do it Silently if u realy care abt it
“Remember the three R’s: Respect for self; Respect for others; and Responsibility for all your actions. ‘
‘”IF SOMEONE FEELS THAT THEY HAD NEVER MADE A MISTAKE IN THEIR LIFE,THEN IT MEANS THEY HAD NEVER TRIED A NEW THING IN THEIR LIFE