Abrar Saeed
ISLAMABAD – Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) has initiated formal consultations for picking the new chief executive of Gilgit-Baltistan with things heavily leaning in favour of party’s GB Chapter President Hafiz Hafeezur Rehman.
A delegation of PML-N Gilgit-Baltistan chapter on Wednesday held a meeting with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif where matters relating to the formation of government in the area came under discussion.
PML-N alone had managed two-third majority in the Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly by clinching 17 out of 24 seats, completely outwitting the other political parties in the area and now need not any support and help of other parties in forming its government.
Sources in the party said that the Prime Minister wanted the new government in the area to focus on development in a transparent fashion with focus on the projects aimed at providing direct impact on the uplift of the lives of common people.
“It is just a preliminary meeting of Prime Minister with officer bearers of the GB chapter of the party and no name for new chief minister is finalised,” PML-N central leader and Chairman Evacuee Trust Property Board Siddiqul Farooq informed The Nation.
He further informed that the formal notification of the newly elected members of GB Legislative Assembly by Election Commission is due on 23rd of this month, so the matter of new chief executive of the area and the cabinet composition would be discussed later on.
The sources in the party confirmed to The Nation that Prime Minister Mohammad Nawaz Sharif would likely to visit Gilgit in the last week of this month and would make formal announcement of the new chief executive of the area and would also finalise the matters relating to the formation of cabinet in consultation with the GB chapter party leadership.
However, the sources said that among the contenders for the top position Hafiz Hafeezur Rehman would be the most likely choice of Prime Minister Mohammad Nawaz Sharif who was quite happy with the performance of the fellow in organising the party in the area and above all his unflinching loyalty with the party.
These sources further said that being head of PML-N GB Chapter Hafiz Hafeezur Rehman commands the support and backing of majority of the newly elected MPs of the party from the area, so things on ground are heavily in his favour with other contenders for the top slot lagging far behind him on all counts.
Among other contenders Mir Ghazanfar and Feda Mohammad’s names are prominent, a party leader with hand in managing the affairs of the party’s GB chapter informed.
According to the media release of the meeting of PML-N GB chapter officer bearers, Prime Minister congratulated Governor GB for peaceful holding of the Legislative Assembly elections in the area.
The Prime Minister said that the GB government must work for promoting harmony across sectarian and political lines and perform functions with transparency based only on merit, as envisioned in the manifesto of PML-N.
He said provision of basic necessities of life to people living in all areas of GB is a priority of PML-N government. He assured that all resources of GB shall be spent on the welfare of the people of GB.
Matters relating to formation of government in GB also came under discussion.
The delegation told the Prime Minister that people of GB are looking forward to PM’s visit to the area.
Other members of the delegation included Hafiz Hafeez ur Rahman, President PML-N GB; Haji Akbar Taban and Shams Mir.
Governor GB, Chaudhry Muhammad Barjees Tahir; Special Assistant to PM on Political Affairs, Dr. Asif Kirmani; Secretary to PM, Javed Aslam and Chairman Evacuee Trust Property Board, Siddiqul Farooq were present in the meeting.
Courtesy: The Nation
Hafeez should b made CM…Mir and Nashad both are Chalay huway Cartoos