Unity in G-B: Tahir urges politicians not to ‘divide’ region

GILGIT:

Newly-appointed Gilgit-Baltistan Governor Barjees Tahir asked politicians on Friday not to divide the region based on “locals and non-locals”. His visit to Gilgit was punctuated by protests by political parties, including Pakistan Peoples Party, over his non-local status.

Tahir’s comments and the protests came a day after local politicians, especially those from PPP, declared his appointment unacceptable as he is not a resident of the region – Tahir hails from Punjab. “Those dividing society on the basis of locals and non-locals are spreading hatred and chaos,” Tahir said while addressing a gathering in Gilgit.

He arrived in the city earlier in the day for his first official visit after taking charge as governor. “I was constitutionally elected just like Qamar Zaman Kaira,” Tahir said, referring to the PPP leader who became the first governor of G-B in 2009.

Tahir, who is also the federal minister for G-B and Kashmir Affairs, said elections would be fair and transparent under an independent election commission. Referring to the Pak-China economic corridor, he said the people of G-B would benefit as the project would pass through the region. Meanwhile, former chief minister Mehdi Shah demanded elections be held under army supervision.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 7^th, 2015.