GB officials told to mend ways

By Farooq Ahmed in The Dawn, Nov 5

GILGIT, Nov 4: The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has come down hard on the bureaucracy in Gilgit-Baltistan and warned to mend its traditional way or face the music.

PPP leader Chaudhry Manzoor Ahmed, while talking to party leaders and candidates here on Wednesday, said that the common people were source of power and the bureaucrats were mere public servants. He stressed accountability of officials.

Mr Ahmed claimed that the PPP, as the largest party of the country, would get victory in the upcoming elections for the GB Legislative Assembly. “Other political parties have no competition with the PPP, the parties could not find candidates in the 24 constituencies of region even,” he added.

“So our position is totally different from other parties. What they would tell to the public because they have done nothing for them despite their long periods in power,” he told delegations while reminding the services of Z.A Bhutto, Benazir Bhutto and President Zardari for the people of Gilgit-Baltistan.

Party candidates Mohammad Musa, Jamil Ahmed, Zulfiqar Ali and Mohammad Ali Akhtar also met Mr Ahmed, who being a labour leader is also in-charge elections of the PPP. The candidates apprised him of progress and advised them to reach every member of the society, and educate them about the philosophy of the party.

The PPP youth and student wings also met the party leader on the occasion.

POLL MEETING: A high level meeting in Gilgit, capital city of the region, reviewed arrangements made to hold fair, free and transparent elections for the Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly due on Nov 12.

The meeting was attended by Chief Election Commissioner Rahim Nawaz Durrani, Chief Secretary Babar Yaqoob, Inspector General Police Tahseen Anwar, Home Secretary Mohammad Usman, returning officers and other officials.

It disposed off a number of complaints and returning officers were provided the required funds for smooth working of the polling staff. It also approved enhancement of polling booths. http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/national/gb-officials-told-to-mend-ways-519