GILGIT: The newly appointed Gilgit-Baltistan Governor Chaudhry Barjees Tahir arrived here on Friday amid protest demonstrations by opposition parties terming his appointment as unconstitutional and unlawful.
Mr Tahir, also the Federal Minster for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan, is on a two-day visit to the region after assuming the role of governor.
Nineteen political, religious and nationalist parties, including PPP, PTI, JUI-F and MQM, had announced to observe a `black day` to coincide with the visit of the governor. Protest demonstrations were staged in Diamer,Astore and Gilgit. Black flags and banners inscribed with slogans against the governor were hosted on buildings at various places in Gilgit city.
PPP workers staged demonstrations in Banazir Chowk, Gilgit, shouting slogans against the federal government. They also blocl
PPP activists also staged a demonstration at Pareshaan Chowk in Astore.
Similarly, around 200 political activists gathered at Siddig-iAkbar Chowk in Chilas to protest the governor`s visit. They said that the people of GB didn`t accept an outsider as the region`s governor.
Earlier, on arrival fromIslamabad, Mr Tahir was taken to the Governor House amid tight security as roads leading to the Governor House from the airport were sealed of f.
Addressing a press conference at the Governor House, Barjees Tahir rejected opposition parties` allegations against his appointment as GB governor. He said that he had been appointed under GB Empowerment and Self Governance Order, 2009.
Mr Tahir said that the job of holding election to the GBLA rested with the caretaker government and the election commission and that he had nothing to do with the conduct of the elections. `I am only facilitator to the GB government and wouldn`t influence the polls in anyway,` heclaimed.
The federal minister said that the federal government had approved 16 megawatt Naltar hydropower project, which would help end power crisis in the region. `Mega projects like Diamer-Bhasha Dam, Shontar tunnel and Babusar pass would be completed soon,` he announced. He said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was taking keen interest in development of the region.
The governor also chaired a high-level meeting at the Chief Minister House to review law and order situation in the region.
According to an official statement the meeting was attended by caretaker chief minister along with his cabinet members, senioradministration and police officials.
Mr Tahir directed the administration ofñcials to expedite efforts to arrest prisoners who had managed to flee from the Gilgit jail recently. He extolled the policemen for killing one neeing terrorist and inuring the other. He said the brave police officials would be awarded prizes.
The governor said that those collaborated with the prisoners in their escape from the jail would be awarded exemplary punishment. Later, addressing a gathering of PML-N workers in Gilgit city, Mr Tahir claimed that PML-N would clean sweep the upcoming GBLA elections on its performance. http://epaper.dawn.com/DetailImage.php?StoryImage=07_03_2015_183_005
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