Pakistan

Gilgit-Baltistan: Pir Karam Ali Shah picked to be governor

The post was lying vacant for more than four months after the death of the first G-B Governor Dr Shama Khalid.

Peer Muhammad January 25, 2011

ISLAMABAD: The federal government decided on Monday to appoint Pir Karam Ali Shah as the new governor of Gilgit-Baltistan. The post was lying vacant for more than four months after the death of the first G-B Governor Dr Shama Khalid, who died on September 15 last year.

Sources said that the decision was taken by President Asif Ali Zardari in consultation with Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani and other party leaders. However, a notification to this effect has not yet been issued. It is likely that the notification will be issued today.

Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly Speaker Wazir Baig was performing as acting governor since the death of the first governor.

Shah along with G-B Chief Minister Syed Mehdi Shah held separate meetings with Zardari and the prime minister on Monday. Shah is a sitting member of the G-B Legislative Assembly and is considered one of the stalwarts of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). Shah was a close aide of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto and also served as the first deputy chief executive of the then Northern Areas Legislative Council under the Legal Framework Order during the first stint of the PPP government in the 1990s.

Meanwhile, several political parties in Gilgit have welcomed appointment of Shah as the governor. “We expect that the new governor will utilise his experience for the development of the region,” Hafiz ur Rehman, the provincial chief of PML-N told The Express Tribune on Monday. (additional reporting by shabbir mir)

Published in The Express Tribune, January 25^th, 2011.

COMMENTS (11)

Usman Baloch | 13 years ago | Reply Who else becomes governer is a good decision to empower the people of Gilgit Baltistan. we must salute the ppp governament for this stalwart.

Anonymous | 13 years ago | Reply Many congratulations to Pir Karim Ali Shah. There was that name circulating around the Nothern Areas however no one thought this would really happen. No doubt on the gentleman's character however I do feel there is a negative side that the government should have considered while making this decision. Locals are aware of the fact that Mehdi Shah would have liked someone that he would or could dictate to rather than the other way around. Do we have an educational profile where we can judge the new governor's background apart from political affiliation or is that really the criteria? Are we going to change things around once the PPP government is over? Too many things left mid-air with this decision, I thought the whole idea was to bring someone from a neutral background as announced earlier while Dr. Shama Khalid was under consideration. How come the government never considered the ruling educated families of the area where there would be no Shia-Sunni conflict. Two perfect candidates were Mir Ghazanfar and Prince Barkat from Hunza and Nagar, both educated and well aware of local norms and culture, unfortunate for them they were not on the PPP list. If only our politicians were able enough to see the bigger picture rather than worry about what crosses the Sost border. Enough said, I wish Pir Karim Shah a fruitful tenure and hope he is able to deliver beyond the expectations of this neglected region.

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Raja ayub | 13 years ago | Reply Glade Pir sab become Gilgit-Baltistan's Governor.we are warmly welcoming him,and hoping that he will do his best for Gilgit-Baltistan development.

advocat Gohar broshal | 13 years ago | Reply This is very disappointed news for the people of GB that pir is not eligible for the post of governor of GB.So we extremely condemn ppp govt and Mahdi shah's blunder.

ARIF | 13 years ago | Reply Inshalah: he will be betterfor us

sadiq hussain | 13 years ago | Reply I convey my heartiest an deepest congratulation to my most honorable Mr Pir Karam Ali shah of been appointed as the Governor of Gilgit Baltistan and we are proud of you. you deserve such honor.thank you.

dr raj wali | 13 years ago | Reply he is good luck for us

Ali Khan | 13 years ago | Reply Another burden on the meager resources of our region. The grapevine had it that blunder-prone Mehdi Shah wanted a weak Governor all along. Pir seems to be the perfect guy to pamper to the insecurities of the CM. The post of Governor is a powerful one and was likely to put pressure on CM over powers. The Pir's name surfaced among the affected people and was forwarded for Watan Card. He didn't had the guts to get it removed given that he owns a lot of property. Those who have served in his hometown , Chatorkhand say that he has effected minimal development work when he was appointed the Chief Executive of the region in 90s. Good luck to GB's development as PKAS being the Governor!

Tufail M Ali | 13 years ago | Reply A very warm welcome to Mr. Shah as the new Governor of Gilgit Baltistan. We hope you will serve the area very well.

Nawaz | 13 years ago | Reply Notification already issued (courtesy PTV )

Rashida Shahwali | 13 years ago | Reply He deserved being the oldest PPP leader from GB.

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