New Gilgit-Baltistan governor appointed

Despite being the president’s prerogative, the PM office made the announcement.

ISLAMABAD: Pir Syed Karam Ali Shah, a veteran politician of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and a close associate of the prime minister, has been appointed as the governor of Gilgit-Baltistan.

Shah, a sitting member of the region’s legislative assembly from far-north Ghizer district, is considered to be a close friend of Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani.

Interestingly, although the appointment of a governor is considered to be the sole prerogative of the president, the announcement was made through a press statement from the Prime Minister House.

There were reports of differences in the PPP camp over this appointment as the acting governor Wazir Baig, who is also the speaker of the legislative assembly, was considered a strong candidate for the post.

The president’s camp opted to refrain from commenting on the new appointment. However, a spokesperson for President Asif Ali Zardari said: “The appointment of the governor of Gilgit-Baltistan was to be announced by Manzoor Wattoo.”

The post of the governor had fallen vacant after the death of Dr Shama Khalid, the first governor of the area, who died of cancer on September 15 last year.

Pir Karam Ali Shah was first elected unopposed as member of the Northern Areas’ advisory council in 1970. He joined PPP in 1972. He also served as the first deputy chief executive of the then Northern Areas’ Legislative Council (NALC) in early 1990s during the tenure of the first PPP government.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 27^th,  2011.