Meraj Alam
GILGIT – Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) lawmaker Haji Shah Baig has become Leader of the opposition in Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly on Tuesday. Shah Baig secured the support of seven opposition lawmakers out of 11 during the voting process held for the slot of opposition leader in assembly session. The largest opposition party Islami Tehrik-e-Pakistan (ITP) having four members failed to secure the slot of opposition leader in the G-B Assembly.
Sources said earlier other opposition parties – Majlis Wahdat Muslimeen (MWM) with three seats, and PPP, PTI, JUIF one seat each – agreed on trying their luck through a draw and the winner was Haji Shah Baig, who is a senior leader of JUI-F.
The opposition parties kept the largest opposition party Islami Tehrik-e- Pakistan at bay and avoid taking it into confidence.
When Speaker Fida Muhammad Nashad asked opposition parties to name the opposition leader then MWM, PTI, PPP candidates supported JUI leader Haji Shah Baig.
However, ITP leader Sikandar Ali raised strong objection over the move, saying it is totally illegal act on the part of opposition parties to ignore the largest opposition party. He demanded the speaker to reject the undemocratic process. MWM Leader Muhammad Shafi also refused to sit with opposition members and requested the speaker to separate his bench.
“Majority is authority, JUI Leader Haji Shah Baig has become Leader of the Opposition in G-B Assembly and I have no role to place 3rd bench in the Assembly,” Said Speaker Fida Muhammad Nashad added.
Courtesy: The Nation
