Shifting allegiance: PPP senior leader Agha Foker joins PML-N

Says party respects wishes of public and has people-friendly policies.

GILGIT:

Another senior leader of Pakistan Peoples Party who is also a former lawmaker in Gilgit-Baltistan has defected to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, making the latter’s position stronger ahead of the June 8 legislative elections.

“I have decided to join PML-N for its people-friendly policies and decisions,” said Agha Mohammad Ali Shah at a gathering arranged in Skardu on Saturday regarding his move. Shah is popularly known as Agha Foker in G-B and served as a parliamentary secretary in the previous government which ended its five-year tenure in December 2014.

Shah’s move to PML-N came a day after the lone ranger of Muttahida Qaumi Movement in G-B, Raja Azam, deserted his party in favour of PML-N, a party gaining wide acceptance in the masses ahead of the G-B legislative elections. Earlier this month, one of Pakistan Peoples Party G-B’s founding members Yahya Shah and senior members of its ulema wing switched their party affiliations.

PML-N G-B General Secretary Akbar Taban welcomed Shah’s decision and termed it a “leap” towards achieving success in the elections.

On the occasion, Shah praised PML-N leader and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for his “bold decisions against terrorism” and his announcement of development schemes during his recent visit to G-B.

“The previous government did not respect the wishes of the people, this government did,” said Shah, referring to the district status announced by the PM for Kharmang, Shah’s hometown. Besides Kharmang, the PM Sharif also declared Shigar and Hunza as districts.

Moreover, another PPP stalwart, Wazir Hassan, has also decided to join PML-N and according to the party’s leaders, it is a matter of time before he makes his announcement formally.

PPP demands army supervision

PPP in G-B has written to Chief Election Commissioner Justice Tahir Ali Shah, asking him to conduct the polling on June 8 under the army’s supervision.

The request from PPP has come days after the CEC said he did not receive a written application from any party for polls under army supervision.

In a letter addressed to the CEC, PPP’s Aftab Haider has asked that returning officers and district returning officers be appointed from the judiciary and a ban be imposed on hiring in government departments till the polling day.

Haider, in his letter, has accused G-B Governor Barjees Tahir of pre-poll rigging, saying he is trying to influence the polls by making postings of government officials.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 26^th, 2015.