Top judge’s appointment: Fissures in local PPP ranks

G-B apex court, regional secretary information PPP has accused senior party leaders of creating a rift in the party.

GILGIT:

For publicly criticising the appointment of the chief judge of the Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) apex court, regional secretary information Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has accused senior party leaders of creating a rift in the party.

Such elements within the party seriously dent its credibility, claimed Rana Nazeem, PPP’s regional secretary information, pointing fingers at Finance Minister Muhammad Ali Akhtar and Wazir Ibadat, member G-B Council, who had openly criticised Chief Minister Mehdi Shah and Governor Karam Ali Shah for recommending a non-resident and an undeserving person as chief judge of the Supreme Appellate Court (SAC). They had termed the decision against the region’s interest.

Nazeem asked both gentlemen to resign from their posts if they differed with party policy. The secretary information said the finance minister was not competent and that he and Ibadat were creating a rift in the party. When contacted, the finance minister said he had neither violated party discipline nor party policy by publicly opposing the decision. “I just conveyed the sentiments of the general public to the executive and I think that is part of my job.”

Justice Rana Muhammad Arshad Khan was appointed in February after Justice Muhammad Nawaz Abbasi’s contract expired in January.

Wazir Shakil, the regional Law minister, had said the premier had appointed Justice Khan as chief judge.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 14^th, 2012.