Not a fan: G-B chief minister dubs former secretary Hotiani a ‘Facebook hero’
Lawmakers criticise government for insufficient development projects.
The CM’s comments came after lawmaker Nawaz Naji criticised the government for failing to keep a check on bureaucracy. PHOTO: EXPRESS
GILGIT:
Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) Chief Minster (CM) Mehdi Shah on Monday accused former chief secretary Sajjad Hotiana of being a “Facebook hero”, claiming the latter tried to instigate lawmakers against him.
“He tried to turn my colleagues against me and also tried to incite me against them by saying they were corrupt,” Shah said in the G-B Assembly, referring to Hotiana who was recently transferred on the former’s complaints.
The CM’s comments came after lawmaker Nawaz Naji criticised the government for failing to keep a check on bureaucracy, saying the real power rests with bureaucrats and not elected representatives. “Hotiana alone availed hundreds of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) tickets and no one sought any explanation from him,” claimed Naji.
Hotiana was famous among the educated circles in G-B for being available on Facebook, a move the regional government did not like. In a bid to refrain him from using the website, CM Shah banned the use of Facebook during office hours last month. This, however, did little to deter Hotiana.
On a point of order, Nawaz Naji said no development work had been undertaken in Ghizer valley during the past three years and asked assembly speaker Wazir Baig to present the list of expenditures before the house.
Minister of Works Bashir Ahmad defended the government, saying money was spent on completing earlier projects, the details of which would be presented to the house.
Lawmaker Riazuddin drew the speaker’s attention to delays in the establishment of the G-B public service tribunal and the Gilgit and Skardu development authorities, asking him to expedite the process. Upon this, Wazir Baig asked the CM to establish all the institutions mentioned in the G-B Governance Order 2009.
Meanwhile, the house unanimously passed the ‘Child Protection Bill’ tabled by a lawmaker.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 21st, 2013.
Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) Chief Minster (CM) Mehdi Shah on Monday accused former chief secretary Sajjad Hotiana of being a “Facebook hero”, claiming the latter tried to instigate lawmakers against him.
“He tried to turn my colleagues against me and also tried to incite me against them by saying they were corrupt,” Shah said in the G-B Assembly, referring to Hotiana who was recently transferred on the former’s complaints.
The CM’s comments came after lawmaker Nawaz Naji criticised the government for failing to keep a check on bureaucracy, saying the real power rests with bureaucrats and not elected representatives. “Hotiana alone availed hundreds of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) tickets and no one sought any explanation from him,” claimed Naji.
Hotiana was famous among the educated circles in G-B for being available on Facebook, a move the regional government did not like. In a bid to refrain him from using the website, CM Shah banned the use of Facebook during office hours last month. This, however, did little to deter Hotiana.
On a point of order, Nawaz Naji said no development work had been undertaken in Ghizer valley during the past three years and asked assembly speaker Wazir Baig to present the list of expenditures before the house.
Minister of Works Bashir Ahmad defended the government, saying money was spent on completing earlier projects, the details of which would be presented to the house.
Lawmaker Riazuddin drew the speaker’s attention to delays in the establishment of the G-B public service tribunal and the Gilgit and Skardu development authorities, asking him to expedite the process. Upon this, Wazir Baig asked the CM to establish all the institutions mentioned in the G-B Governance Order 2009.
Meanwhile, the house unanimously passed the ‘Child Protection Bill’ tabled by a lawmaker.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 21st, 2013.