Face-lift: Kaira vows to revamp PPP’s image in G-B

Urges PML-N-led government to ensure region’s representation in CPEC

GILGIT:

The central leadership of Pakistan Peoples Party plans to meet party workers and local leaders to discuss effective means to reorganise the party in Gilgit-Baltistan.

This was said by PPP Central Information Secretary Qamar Zaman Kaira during his visit to the region on Tuesday. He was speaking at a news conference at Gilgit Press Club.

PPP stalwarts are visiting the region for the first time to reorganise the party following its defeat in the G-B elections in June. PPP – the former ruling party of the district – only won a single seat during the polls. The central information secretary was also accompanied by regional leaders, including former speaker Wazir Baig, Deputy Speaker Jamil Ahmed, Muhammad Musa, Amjad Hussain and Sadia Danish, among others.

“PPP has a long list of achievements in G-B ever since President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto ruled the country,” he said. “We hope the party will make a  comeback soon.”



Kaira urged the PML-N-led government to ensure representation of G-B in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor that will be built through the region. He also threatened agitation if the regional government does away with development schemes initiated during PPP’s tenure.

Read: Gilgit-Baltistan polls: PML-N grabs half of assembly seats

Kaira added the new regional government should take on the responsibility of addressing the constitutional limbo G-B continues to face.

“We have done our part by introducing the G-B Self Governance & Empowerment Ordinance 2009 during the previous term,” he added.

Acknowledgement

“We acknowledge that PPP is going through a tough time,” Kaira said. “PPP co-chairperson Bilawal Bhutto has taken up the party and we hope all will be okay now,” he said. “PPP has faced similar difficulties in the past but it bounced back successfully.”

The internal strife and bad governance during the past five years in G-B had led to the downfall of the party that first brought the region into mainstream politics after Bhutto introduced constitutional reforms in early 1970s.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 14^th, 2015.