Setting boundaries: Information secretary accuses PML-N of meddling in G-B’s affairs

Allegations comes after PML-N leader Siddiqul Farooq made a statement on corruption.

GILGIT:

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Siddiqul Farooq has been accused of interfering in the affairs of the Gilgit-Baltistan government.

The accusation was made by Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) secretary of information in G-B after Farooq gave a statement to the media regarding alleged corruption of the PPP-led government in the region.

“What he is doing is in sheer violation of the autonomy given to provinces under the 18th Amendment,” said G-B’s Secretary of Information Rana Nazeem on Wednesday.

“Farooq should not worry about us. We are capable of putting our house in order as we have independent offices of the governor and chief minister in place,” he said. “We are answerable to the public, not him.”

Nazeem said the PML-N leader is neither a minister nor a senator in the government; therefore he should stay away from G-B’s affairs. “He should respect the mandate of the people who voted the PPP into power,” he added.

The secretary also asked the federal government to rein in on the PML-N leader and maintain confidence between both parties.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 29^th, 2013.