Regional politics: Two lawmakers sworn in G-B Cabinet

GILGIT: Two more lawmakers were inducted into the Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) Cabinet on Friday, making it 10-member strong.

Sheikh Nisar Hussain Sarbaz and Didar Ali were sworn in during a ceremony held at the Governor House on Friday. Sarbaz is a Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) lawmaker from Skardu, while Didar is a resident of Gilgit from where he won as an independent candidate. The new incumbents will be assigned portfolios in two days.

G-B Chief Minister (CM) Mehdi Shah, the assembly speaker and other lawmakers and senior government officials attended the ceremony.

The seat had fallen vacant after Advocate Wazir Shakeel was appointed as a judge in the G-B chief court last month.

The induction of Didar Ali reportedly came after President Asif Ali Zardari and Tehreek-e-Jafaria Pakistan chief Sajid Naqvi agreed on seat adjustment in the general elections.

Governor Pir Karam Ali Shah and the CM were then directed by the PPP central leadership to accommodate Didar Ali in the Cabinet.

While the oath taking ceremony was in progress, some PPP workers had a fight with the security guards at the gate of the Governor House after they were denied entry. The row settled after senior leaders interfered.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 20^th, 2013.