By Maqbool Malik
ISLAMABAD – Lobbies representing different political parties have intensified their efforts to secure the prestigious position of Gilgit-Baltistan’s woman governor to be appointed by the President Asif Ali Zaradri, TheNation reliably learnt on Sunday.
According to the informed sources, apart from smaller political parties, the major players PPP and the PML-N have stepped up their efforts to secure the slot. Sources said both the PPP and PML-N have shortlisted names of their probable nominees and were in talks to cut the deal.
Sources said that both the PPP and the PML-N had agreed to adjust elected members of the smaller political including the JUI (F) and ANP in the PPP-led cabinet being formed in effort to bargain over the slot of governor.
Sources were of the view that PPP was currently considering three names for the slot including Samina Khalid Gurki, Sherry Rehman and Asima Arbab Alamgir, while the PML-N was struggling to secure the prestigious slot for Rani Attiqa, wife of Mir of Hunza.
The PPP which as matter of policy wants to appoint a woman as first governor had started selection process after it failed to choose one from the list of elected party MPs from Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly.
Sources further said that PPP was offering the PML-N, which is also its coalition partner in the Punjab government, some seats in the 13-member Northern Areas Council yet to be constituted and to be headed by the Prime Minister as its Chairman. The PML-N, sources said, was demanding slot of the governor and share both in the cabinet as well as the proposed council.
Sources said that the efforts were underway to complete the entire process by May, with the first phase aiming at appointing the governor and constituting the NA Council on the pattern of AJK Council. This would be followed by second phase relating to cabinet formation.
However, according to the sources, the entire process was still under consideration of the government to set its priority over how the process of Gilgit-Baltistan government be completed. http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online//Politics/11-Jan-2010/N-demands-GB-governor-slot
Be First to Comment