Minister for Interior, Rehman Malik on Monday said the government of Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) would be provided all-out support to ensure security and maintain law and order during month of Muharram-ul-Harram. He was talking to Chief Minister GB, Syed Mehdi Shah, who called on the Minister here to discuss matters relating to security in GB during Muharram.

Source (TheNews) Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Mehdi Shah has recommended to Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani to punish former Establishment Secretary Sohail Ahmed for what allegedly fueling confrontation between the government and the Supreme Court.

“I have urged the prime minister in writing to suspend Sohail Ahmed because he notified transfer of Hussain Asghar, currently serving as Inspector General of Police, Gilgit-Baltistan, to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), without consulting me,” Mehdi Shah told The News when contacted. While he wanted severe action against reputed Sohail Ahmed, the Supreme Court Friday directed the “competent authority” (prime minister) to assign an appropriate post to the officer in seven days, dubbing his position as OSD non-practical, or the transfer order, making him OSD, would be considered suspended. Mehdi Shah repeatedly said that he respects the apex court and its orders, but added that it has no jurisdiction over Gilgit-Baltistan (which has separate judicial setup). “I have protested to Gilani in writing over the order, seeking Hussain Asghar repatriation, and I have every right to lodge such protest with him,” the chief minister said, and added that the establishment secretary exceeded his authority. “The way Hussain Asghar has been transferred is inappropriate.”

When pointed out that when Sohail Ahmed did not even consult Gilani on issuing the notification about Hussain Asghar because of the judicial order, why would he talk to him about it, the chief minister said that no province accepted such orders. He referred to Punjab more than once and said its chief minister was never willing to comply with such directions of the federal government.

Mehdi Shah poured his anger on Sohail Ahmed, who, he said, should have phoned him for consultations regarding Hussain Asghar’s transfer, and who created a wedge between the government and the apex court. However, he said he has not directly received any order for sending Hussain Asghar back to the FIA. Also, the Supreme Court too has not issued any direction to him.

He said that in the recent past, he had sent back a nominee as planning secretary who was appointed by the federal government without consulting him.

The chief minister said that whatever Attorney General Maulvi Anwarul Haq presented before a Supreme Court bench, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, stated without talking to him. “He did not seek my opinion.” The attorney general told the apex court on Friday that the Gilgit-Baltistan chief minister prevented Hussain Asghar from leaving his office and that he can’t be relieved without a replacement.

Mehdi Shah did not say in so many words during the telephonic chat with this correspondent that he would be willing to let Hussain Asghar take up his assignment at the FIA, but it appeared that he would not bar him after a new IGP would be nominated by the federal government with his consultations. It is stated that Mehdi Shah, who has been echoing what he has been fed by the federal government on the question of transfer of Hussain Asghar, will toe the official line in the days to come as well.

However, he will offer no resistance after a new officer would be made IGP for Gilgit-Baltistan in place of Hussain Asghar, who has made it clear that he would instantly leave his present office on receipt of an order of the apex court.

Shabbir Mir (The Express Tribune) Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) Chief Minister Mehdi Shah has ordered lifting of a ban on mining temporarily, requesting associated businessmen to help the government formulate a comprehensive policy to make the industry more productive.

“The decision has been taken in the wake of demand from Gilgit-Baltistan traders associated with this industry,” said a spokesman.

The G-B government had placed a ban on the haphazard mining of precious stones in the region after reports surfaced that inefficient mining techniques were depriving the regional economy of potential revenue. Experts suggest that up to 90 per cent of minerals and gemstones mined in G-B are wasted due to outdated mining methods.

“If a comprehensive policy is prepared, the chances of revenue generation will increase manifold,” said Shah, who had come under severe criticism for placing the ban. “Once the policy is prepared, all associated people of the industry will have to follow it to ensure maximum earnings,” he added.

Requesting anonymity, an official in the local government said that the G-B Assembly was set to make legislation on tourism and minerals, as the G-B Council had already finalised its recommendations for awarding these sectors the status of corporation.

It has been revealed that foreign tourists visiting Gilgit-Baltistan have been taking away gemstones without payment, as the government did not have a policy in place to keep a check.

The official said that the implementation of the decision will not only create job opportunities, but also create an organised system for maximum use of the resources present in the area. It will also bind tourists visiting the region to follow rules, which will benefit revenue collection as tourists would have to pay fees and would not be allowed to take gemstones without payment.

Modern technology will also be introduced to check wastage of resources, as the ministry has earmarked a hefty amount of $300 million for the purpose.

Source(tribune) Chief Minister Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) Mehdi Shah on Friday vowed to continue a boycott of the famous Shandur Polo tournament unless the federal government resolves the controversial boundary issue between G-B and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P).

“Our boycott of the tournament continues as long as the issue stands unresolved,” Mehdi Shah told legislators in the Gilgit-Baltistan assembly during proceedings on Friday. He said that Shandur is part of G-B, a claim that is also held by K-P for the past some decades.

The event played between Chitral and Gilgit-Baltistan teams dates back to colonial times when Major Evelyn Cobb, a British Political Agent in the 1930s, initiated it in the Shandur ground that is said to be the world’s highest polo ground.

The Shandur boundary issue marred the internationally acclaimed free style polo tournament last year as the teams of Gilgit-Baltistan boycotted in compliance with the political government’s decision. Shah said that boycott is meant to register G-B’s protest over the K-P government’s continued “encroachment over G-B land”.

In 2010, some teams of Chitral played the tournament in Shandur despite the boycott.

Speaker Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly Wazir Baig asked the government to form a committee comprising members of the G-B Council and G-B Assembly to settle the issue of boundaries.

The committee should hold negotiations with the K-P government as well as the federal government to ensure that boundaries are clearly demarcated.

Source (Brecorder) Chief Minister Gilgit-Baltistan Syed Mehdi Shah held separate meetings on Friday with religious leaders representing all school of thoughts and sought their active role to thwart nefarious designs of anti-social elements.

Officials who attended the meeting told this correspondent that the meetings were held to get feedback and opinions of leaders of all school of thoughts in order to know the weakness lies somewhere and creating hurdle to control law and order situation besides establishment of a durable peace in the city. The CM asked the religious leaders to come forward and play active role with government to maintain peace in the area.

He also asked the recommendations for complete eradication of anti-social elements disturbing peace of the city. He urged the leaders to keep eyes on such elements so that proper action could be taken against the responsible persons. He said that the government has adopted a zero tolerance policy for the peace of this region. The CM said that the government is taking keen interest in the development of neglected and remote areas and for this purpose, all available resources are being utilized to achieve the target.

“Merit has been trampled in the appointments of Gilgit-Baltistan police,” the CM said while talking to a delegation of journalists who called on him in his office.

Despite repeated warnings to the police against rising violence, the spree of targeted attempts has not been stopped. This week, in a fresh wave of target killings, one person died while two others were injured including Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Jafferullah.

The chief minister said that if the police were performing their duties sincerely and impartially, the Gilgit-Baltistan government would not have sought the services of Pakistan Rangers to maintain law and order in the region.

He said that his government will work towards bringing about peace and sectarian harmony in the region, adding that all his ministers were performing their duties independently. Commenting on the recent incidents of violence, the chief minister said that some could be a result of a personal rivalry.

Author : Wasim Anjum
From : Oshikhandass, Gilgit Baltistan
Occupation : Student of Linguistics
Cell No. -
Email: wasimaghazi@gmail.com

One of the first-class signs of any flourishing and economically strong country is the well formed tax system. In the western countries we see how they progress and why everyone is paying tax and plays a vital role in the progress of their respective countries. In Pakistan the burden of tax is on the shoulders of those people, who have inadequate resources and hardly able to cope with the difficulties of their lives. In simple words the poor is paying and the elite class is enjoying its benefit.

It came into my knowledge via electronic and print media that the Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan is insisting on imposing the provincial tax. Because Mr. Mehdi Shah CM is of the view that now GB has the given the status of a province but my limited thinking articulates that, his majesty (CM) is not well aware (with apology) of the United Nations resolutions and its annexed history with Pakistan. The Gilgit-Baltistan is a territorial area which is governed by the Federal Capital of Pakistan since its birth.

The GB has got the status of a so-called province but not have the proper status like the other four provinces of the country. The people have limited resources and even not able to execute their necessities within this circle. I am not against the imposition of tax but in a dramatic setup of a theoretical province, where there is not any basic foundation and a flow of even reasonable resources are not available, it is injustice to the people of GB unless until we would not get our self-determination. I would like to ask a simple question from his excellence Mr. CM that, at what cost he is chanting the slogan of imposition of provincial tax? Where the residents of GB are barely able to muddle through their limited resources, their provincial premier wishes to tighten their hands with the cord of new so-called provincial tax. Where the people are deprived of their basic fundamental rights and where there is a dearth of unemployment.

For imposing a provincial tax, a province must be well operational with its basic tools. In other words the province should able to get control on its all resources and to use it revenue in a proper way. The GB has got hidden treasures and we need to do justice to those treasures. We have natural reservoirs and the revenue is been taken by other stake holders. But we see a reverse case and our treasure are sold in the hands of others multi-national companies, state agents and other land lords in the despicable price. The provincial Premier first take a look on to these things and then do something else profitable if he can do for his GB.

I can only suggest the Provincial Premier (CM) of GB that, it would be a worthless errand, if Mr CM accepts its ground reality. We do not fall under the constituency of a constitutional province rather we are living in a provincial setup, which has been awarded under the 18th amendment of the 1973 constitution. It is a long way to go and I am optimistic that one day we would really be able to think prudently, regarding our basic fundamental and political rights. And from there the northern zephyr will bring a change. Being a resident of GB I would like to see my motherland to progress day and night and for such thing we need to play our individual and collective role, so that we will be able to give a sound future to our coming generation.

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