The JUI-F has been the coalition partner of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) in the G-B government for the past three years, with JUI-F leader and health minister Haji Gulbar defending Chief Minister Mehdi Shah on every front.

Similarly, Maulana Attaullah Shahab, a member of the G-B Council, remained advisor to former prime ministers Yousaf Raza Gilani and Raja Pervaiz Ashraf for almost three years and availed every opportunity to bash PML-N on corruption and lawlessness.

Though the PML-N chief in G-B, Hafizur Rahman, remains marred by the bitter memories of JUI-F’s regional leaders, he must respect the agreement reached between the two parties in the centre.

If he defies the agreement, he runs the risk of losing credibility among the party’s central leadership. “It’s a really tricky situation now,” said Nafees Ahmad, a political analyst in Gilgit. “Rahman has to either convince the Sharif brothers to withdraw from the agreement with the JUI-F or just forget the past,” he added.

Following PML-N’s victory on Election Day, Rahman triggered a regional debate after expressing his desire to replace the G-B governor with a party candidate. Many parties, with the JUI-F in the forefront, opposed his idea.

“Any unconstitutional move will be resisted with full force,” said JUI-F’s Gulbar while referring to Rahman’s suggestion. “The governor will remain as long as the president wishes.”

Meanwhile, Rahman avoided commenting on whether he would like friendlier ties with the JUI-F in G-B. “It is too early to comment on it,” he told reporters on Saturday.

A JUI-F delegation from G-B met the party’s chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman in Islamabad to update him on the situation emerging in the region in the wake of the May 11 polls. At the meeting, Fazl assured the participants his full support.

Though the alliance has rekindled hopes of a rapprochement between the two parties in G-B, it remains undetermined whether the JUI-F will be offered the slot for the advisor to PM.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 19^th, 2013.

Hafizur Rahman expressed his desire to replace the existing governor with one from PML-N a day after his party emerged as the largest force in the May 11 polls. The shift of power at the centre is bound to affect G-B’s government as it is dependent on the federal government for funds and budget.

Presently, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) is the ruling party in G-B, with Mehdi Shah the chief minister and Pir Karam Ali Shah the governor.

“We will not accept an imported governor for G-B,” said Janbaz Khan of PML-N, who is currently the opposition leader in the G-B Assembly. “We have made sacrifices for the party, therefore we will not tolerate any cheating,” he said, indirectly proposing himself for the post.

Janbaz was among those who played an active part during the campaigning for PML-N candidate in Mansehra and other areas.

Another senior leader of PML-N from Ghizer valley, Sultan Madad quietly reached Raiwind to congratulate PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif for the victory.

Similarly, G-B’s former chief executive Mir Ghazanfar is said to be yet another hopeful, justifying his selection for the position. On Tuesday, he demanded the dissolution of the G-B Assembly, terming it “corrupt”.

Ghazanfar switched to PML-Quaid (PML-Q) during General Pervez Musharraf’s government, but returned to PML-N after Musharraf’s tenure ended.

Former speaker of G-B Assembly, Malik Miskeen from Diamer valley is also in line, hoping to be the next governor. Like Ghazanfar, the seasoned politician from Diamer Valley switched to PML-Q during Musharraf’s government and returned to the PML-N’s fold recently.

As the strength of the aspirants swell, Hafizur Rahman said the issue would be decided after consultation with the central leadership.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 16^th, 2013.

Currently, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) is the ruling party in G-B’s coalition government, with Mehdi Shah as the CM and Pir Karam Ali Shah as governor. A change at the centre is bound to affect the government of G-B because it is dependent on the federal government for funds and its budget.

The PML-N’s office in Gilgit was seen flooded by people from all walks of life coming to congratulate Rehman on his party’s success for the second consecutive day after the unofficial results were announced.

Apart from the general public, Rehman is reportedly being greeted by his political opponents, ruling parties’ lawmakers and
bureaucrats alike.

CM Mehdi Shah also called Rehman to congratulate him, though he could not get through to him the first three times owing to Rehman’s “busy schedule”.

“The situation in G-B has changed suddenly. It seems the PML-N is the ruling party and Rehman the new chief minister,” said Khalid Iqbal, a senior analyst. “I don’t think the PML-N central leadership will act against the G-B government, but it is very likely that Shah will be made accountable for what he has done during the past three years in power.”

Rehman has ruled out the possibility of toppling Shah’s government before it completes its tenure in 2014. However, it is widely believed Shah’s heydays have come to an end.

Rehman’s close aides claim dozens of government officials and rival party leaders have approached him, ‘offering their services.’

Shah, in an attempt to downplay the hype surrounding PML-N’s victory, has said the win will not affect his government. In a statement issued late on Sunday, Shah said: “Certain people of a dictatorial mindset may wish to topple the government, but I am sure the independent media and judiciary will not let that happen.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 14^th, 2013.

“I think the governor should be someone from the PML-N,” Hafizur Rahman, G-B president of PML-N told journalists in his office on Sunday. “And we will have a word over it very soon.”

He shot down suggestions of toppling the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)-led G-B government ahead of time, saying the ‘Mehdi Shah administration’ should be given a fair chance to complete its term, which ends in 2014.

“We hope [in the polls] the result of the PPP government and its allies in G-B will be no different from those in the rest of the country,” said Rahman, referring to the dismal performance of the PPP in the general elections.

Pir Karam Ali Shah, a PPP stalwart from Ghizer Valley, is the current governor of G-B. The PPP is the ruling party in the area with the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl, Muttahida Qaumi Movement, and Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid as coalition partners.

In order to fix discrepancies in the system, Rahman asserted a strong governor, free from party biases, was the need of the hour; but at the same time he pushed for a governor from the PML-N.

“There is no accountability system to check corruption in the region and we need to establish such a system,” he said.

The PML-N G-B chief said all development programmes being run in Punjab would be extended to G-B to improve the regional economy, which suffers from a shortage of funds.

Rahman expressed his desire to strengthen G-B’s ties with Punjab, stating relations with Khyber- Pakhtunkhwa only gifted negatives such as arms and ammunition to the region.

As party celebrations continue, people from all over the region flocked to the PML-N regional office to offer congratulations over the party’s landslide victory.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 13^th, 2013.

“That’s not fair. The election commission should take immediate note of poll rigging in parts of Karachi,” complained Mohammad Din while referring to media reports of a certain party’s activists trying to sabotage the polling process in some areas.

Huge crowds were gathered outside offices of political parties including Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in Gilgit. Elsewhere, tea stalls were abuzz with political discussion and speculations on the turnout. “I am sure change will come,” said a PTI supporter.

Reports from other parts of G-B indicated a similar atmosphere in Skardu, Hunza, Ghizer and Astore, with residents eagerly awaiting the outcome. Traffic, however, remained thin as most people preferred to stay indoors and stay up-to-date with the news.

Though G-B is not represented in the National Assembly and Senate, the regional government is represented by mainstream parties. Currently, the PPP governs G-B while Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement are coalition partners.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 12^th, 2013.

The newest PML-N members were recruited on Thursday when Haji Qurban, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Nagar Valley president, and Jan Alam, a politician from Hunza, announced they would be joining the party’s ranks along with their supporters.

The announcement was made in a ceremony held at a local hotel, which was attended by senior leaders of the PML-N including regional chief Hafizur Rahman. Welcoming the new arrivals, Rahman hoped the party would sweep the elections.

Last week, Malik Miskeen, a senior member of the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) from Diamer valley, also joined the party taking with him hundreds of his supporters and friends. Miskeen, a notable politician, was the speaker of the G-B Assembly during the government of ex-president Pervez Musharraf – the man responsible for sending PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif packing.

Similarly, dozens of influential people from Barmas opted to join the PML-N, expressing confidence in the regional leadership.

Last month, Ghulam Mohammad, a key leader of the PPP in G-B, defected to the Nawaz League after he was sidelined by his own party. A resident of Ghizer valley, Mohammad remained PPP’s general secretary for several years.

Haji Fida Mohammad Nashad, a senior leader of the PML-Q, joined the PML-N in 2012. Nashad was the deputy chief executive of the G-B government during Musharraf’s tenure.

The PML-N’s popularity in G-B, at least amongst veteran politicians, is rising day by day in the run up to the polls. Independent observers believe the defections may increase in the coming days if the PML-N wins a majority.

Meanwhile, even though residents of G-B cannot cast their votes on Election Day due to constitutional reasons, they will be closely watching who forms the country’s next democratic government in Islamabad come May 11.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 10^th, 2013.

GILGIT: Leaders of mainstream political parties in Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) shunned the reservations of religious parties against the G-B Empowerment and Self-Governance Order 2009, claiming the fault lies with the rulers and not the system itself.

“There is nothing written against any sect in the legislation, so we will not support any struggle on sectarian lines,” said Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) regional head Hafizur Rahman on Wednesday.

Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and Ahle Sunnat Waljamat (ASWJ) on Tuesday observed a ‘token strike’ in parts of G-B against the 2009 legislation, asking authorities to revoke it and amalgamate G-B with Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). They alleged the order and the chief minister were both biased and favoured a particular sect.

Some nationalist parties also joined the protest, carrying banners and convening rallies in valleys, including Ghizer and Diamer. The government shut down all educational institutions, markets, cellular services and the Karakoram Highway due to the protest as a precautionary measure on Tuesday.

Rehman blamed G-B Chief Minister (CM) Mehdi Shah and his cabinet for mismanagement, bad governance and rampant corruption, saying it had stained the reputation of the legislation. However, Rehman acknowledged registering a protest was the legal right of any party.

Independent lawmaker Didar Ali said he supported the legislation because it was in the region’s best interest. “The order is not carved in stone. It can be improved by sitting together, but not by issuing decrees against it and launching strikes,” said Ali, who was recently inducted into CM Shah’s cabinet as a minister. “We want G-B to be made the fifth constitutional province of Pakistan,” he added.

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) senior leader and lawmaker Rahmat Khaliq also rejected the demand to revoke the order, but said his party will not oppose any amendments if proposed.

Self-Governance Order 2009 paved the way for the first elections ever to be held in G-B. As a result, a chief minister and governor were elected.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 9^th, 2013.

Desperate times require desperate measures. Khadija, a woman from the very traditional province of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) was ready to plunge into the work field to provide for her family, but did not know how.

“Then one day, I came to know that the Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) government and an NGO had some plans to assist women to increase their income,” said Khadija. “The good thing was that they were providing technical and financial support for setting up small businesses.”

Since a year, things are looking up for this 48-year-old woman who goes to the market every morning and returns home before evening, bringing enough money home to feed her family. “It’s quite encouraging,” she said with a hopeful smile.

In 2007, G-B’s Planning Department and Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP) worked out a plan to establish a string of ‘women markets’ in G-B. The idea of a market exclusive for women drew its strength from the cultural, religious and ethnic sensitivities of various communities living in G-B.

These markets have women as both shopkeepers and shoppers. Women feel comfortable on both sides of the shop counter, dealing with the other women rather than men.

The plan worked as more and more women came up with ideas to start a business. “Around 2,000 women expressed their desire to start independent work as we sought opinion from nearly 60,000 women across G-B,” said Muzaffaruddin, a senior official in the AKRSP, an NGO working in G-B since early 80s in rural development. “We then conducted separate sessions with them, providing them necessary training on how to run a small business,” he said.

As part of their commitment, the support provided to the women by the NGO includes installation of racks in the shops and payment of half of the rent of their shops for the first six months. In addition to that, the women were also taken to cities connecting them with the market forces. They were also linked with a micro-finance bank for loans.

With over 600 shops in 30 women markets across G-B, more than 600 women are now running their independent businesses and supporting their families. The markets operational are in areas, including Danyor, Nomal, Khomer, Ghizer, Astore and Skardu.

A recent study reveals that while certain shops have closed down, the business with women at the helm has expanded on the whole. Encouragingly, the programme is also being replicated in the neighbouring Chitral valley of KP, indicating its success.

For Khadija, life has changed considerably. She spends more time away from home than she ever has. But at the end of the day, when she shares a meal with her family that doesn’t leave them hungry and she knows she can pay her children’s school fee, she goes to sleep a tired but happy woman.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 8^th, 2013.

GILGIT: Religious parties in Gilgit and Diamer districts called for a new and ‘acceptable’ governing system for the region on Tuesday, terming the existing Gilgit-Baltistan Empowerment and Self-Governance Order 2009 ‘biased.’

A token strike was called by parties including the Ahle Sunnat Waljamat (ASWJ) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) to register their reservations against the order promulgated by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) government in 2009.

Under the order, elections were held in Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) for the first time in history and a chief minister and governor were elected and the PPP became the ruling party. G-B was made a de facto province but not under the Constitution.

Protesters carried banners and dispersed peacefully later. However, in a precautionary move all educational institutions, markets, cellular services and the Karakoram Highway remained closed on the government’s orders.

A heavy contingent of police, rangers and Gilgit-Baltistan Scouts patrolled the roads.

“The decision to suspend cellular services had been taken as a precaution to avoid any untoward incident,” said Sajjadul Haq, a spokesperson for the Chief Secretariat. In the past, bitter incidents have occurred between rival groups because of the misuse of mobile phones, he added.

ASWJ G-B chief Qazi Nisar Ahmed condemned the mobile phone restriction, arguing it was a non-violent ‘token strike’ against the self-governance order.

Ahmed said G-B was historically part of Kashmir and should be amalgamated with Azad Kashmir under an interim constitution.

“The existing governance system is unacceptable to us as it has deprived us of our rights,” Ahmad told journalists in Gilgit.

He accused Chief Minister Mehdi Shah for being biased in favour of a particular sect. “Families of the Sunnis killed were paid Rs100,000 each while others killed in similar instances were paid Rs2 million each,” he alleged.

G-B JI chief Abdul Sami said the strike was meant to protest the 2009 Order and draw the attention of whoever forms the new government following the elections on May 11.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 7^th, 2013.

GILGIT: Mobile services are to remain suspended in Gilgit Baltistan for 12 hours on May 6.

The decision to suspend cellular services on Tuesday, from 7am to 7pm, came after the Ahle Sunnat Waljamat (ASWJ) called for a strike in Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B).

A statement issued from deputy commissioner’s office said entrance and exit routes in the city, educational institutes and offices will also remain closed on Tuesday.

The ASWJ chief Nisar Ahmad had on Sunday appealed to the people to observe a peaceful strike against the Gilgit-Baltistan Empowerment and Self Rule Order 2009, under which the existing government had been elected in 2010. He said the constitutional package doesn’t accommodate aspirations of all the sects and thus needs to be revoked by the government in favour of an order that is acceptable to everyone.

“The decision (to suspend cellular services) has been taken as a precautionary measure to avoid any untoward incident during the day,” said Sajjadul Haq, a spokesperson in the Chief Secretariat.

The spokesperson said that the G-B government had sent a proposal to the interior minister, requesting them to suspend the mobile service for the day.

“In the past bitter incidents have occurred between the rival sects due to misuse of mobile phones so we didn’t want that to happen again,” he added.

The government of Pakistan has frequently resorted to the suspension of cellular services during volatile city conditions, particularly during major political rallies and significant religious holidays as a way of ensuring security.