MLA Shah Salim Khan disqualified by Gilgit-Baltistan Supreme Appellate Court for being Bank Defaulter

Gilgit: Hunza’s elected representative, Shah Salim Khan, who has recently been in the news over a property dispute with his parents, has been disqualified from the Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly.

The disqualification was announced by the Gilgit-Baltistan Supreme Appellate Court’s Divisional bench, comprising of Chief Justice Rana Shamim and Justice Javed Iqbal, which found Salim guilty of contesting the elections while being a bank defaulter. The Supreme Appellate Court also directed Gilgit-Baltistan’s Chief Election Commissioner to hold bi-elections in Hunza within 2 weeks.

The decision was announced at the conclusion of hearings based on a petition filed by Col (r) Abaidullah Baig, an independent candidate during the 2016 bi-elections, who has termed the decision of the court to be ‘historical’.

“PMLN had imposed an unpopular candidate on the people of Hunza. He was ineligible for contesting the election, but through political machinations and maneuverings he was made victorious and imposed on Hunza. Today’s decision has proved our point”, he said in a press statement.

Col (r) Abaid had won the second highest number of votes in the 2016 bi-election which was held after Mir Ghazanfar Ali Khan vacated the seat and became the Governor of Gilgit-Baltistan.

The Governor and the Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan campaigned widely, often in violation of election rules, to ensure victory of Shah Salim Khan, who now stands disqualified.

Supporters of Progressive Youth Front have also termed it a just decision. “Every effort was made to keep Baba Jan out of the election, because his victory was imminent. They can’t silence the voice of truth for too long”, said a PYF activist in his social media post.

The decision came one day after the Chief Minister visited Hunza, and announced major administrative reforms, like establishing Gojal sub-division, and Shinaki Tehsil, covering the upper and lower pars of Hunza district.

There are also wide speculations about the decision of the court being influenced by the situation created by the property dispute between the Governor, MLA Atiqa, and their son Shah Salim Khan.

Many people are also saying that the disqualification of MLA Shah Salim Khan was done on behest of the Chief Minister Hafiz Hafeezur Rehman, whom Salim had accused of conspiracies.