G-B chief minister ends alliance with PML-Q

GILGIT: Chief Minister Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) Mehdi Shah on Tuesday announced the termination of an alliance with Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), terming its members as “snakes in the grass.”

“PML-Q lawmakers are like ‘snakes in the grass’ who keep on attacking us despite enjoying privileges from the government,” said the minister, who had been nominated for the position by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).

After coming into power in 2010, PPP formed an alliance with PML-Q, JUI-F and MQM in G-B, under Asif Ali Zardari’s policy of reconciliation, though it had gotten a two-third majority in the legislative assembly.

The termination was triggered by allegations of corruption which were levelled by one of PML-Q’s lawmakers, Mirza Hussain, during the 35th session of the G-B legislative assembly in Gilgit.

“Enough is enough. I am taking this decision as party chief,” Shah said while announcing the break up with the PML-Q that joined the coalition government led by PPP in 2011. As a result, Bashir Ahmed was made Minister for Works in G-B.