ISLAMABAD - The Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) government is being criticised for the alleged undemocratic measures, which are in sheer violation of the 18th Amendment and provincial autonomy, after its appointment of a twelve-member caretaker cabinet in Gilgit-Baltistan, The Nation has learnt.
According to details, the ruling PML-N is introducing measures in Gilgit-Baltistan that are an attempt to surreptitiously revoke provincial autonomy and aim to turn the caretaker Chief Minister Sher Jahan Mir as a dummy chief minister.
An official source close to the Ministry of Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan Affairs has revealed that after assuming charge as caretaker chief minister GB, Sher Jahan Mir forwarded summary to the Ministry of Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan Affairs comprising three names for his cabinet.
In the light of recent amendments in 'Self Governance Ordinance, 2009' the caretaker Chief Minister Gilgit-Baltistan needs to place three names to the ministry concerned that may represent three divisions, including Gilgit Division, Baltistan Division and Diamer Division.
Sher Jahan Mir forwarded three names, including Nasir Zaman representing Gilgit Division, Haji Sanaullah from Baltistan Division and Basharatullah from Diamer Division in his summary for the caretaker cabinet of GB to the ministry concerned, an official source told this reporter.
However, the ministry concerned reportedly altered the summery moved by powerless caretaker CM and excluded the name of Basharatullah and included three names of 'blue-eyed' personalities, including Innayatullah Shamali, Mushtaq Advocate and Niamatullah out of which the last two names were found to be close relatives of a senior army official and were leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami.
The amended 'Self Governance Ordinance, 2009' leaves no room for the five caretaker ministers missing any representation from some divisions of GB specifically forwarded by the CM who enjoys authority and right for the task.
Later on reportedly the ministry concerned, to please the party leaders and blue-eyed personalities, moved seven more names to the prime minister and finally succeeded in getting their notification from Premier Sharif, who also acts as chairman GB Council, raising the number of caretaker cabinet members up to 12.
According to the 18th amendment, it is mandatory to have size of the provincial cabinet up to 11 per cent of the total number of the provincial assembly members; however in Gilgit-Baltistan the number of the caretaker cabinet exceeded the limit and is 33 per cent of the number of members of the GB legislative council.
The issue not only leaves the caretaker chief minister powerless, but also reflects the withdrawal of provincial autonomy as well as shifting the powers from the province back to the centre that is against the essence of the 18th amendment (that was also agreed by PML-N).
The other side of the picture is that the strong political opponents -- PML-N and PTI -- are sharing the same bed in order to exploit the locals jointly and snatch their rights, as PML-N has included PTI leader from GB Ali Murad Advocate from Ghizer into its caretaker cabinet. The inclusion of convener PTI for GB province Hashmatullah's brother Attaullah from Astore also leaves question mark on the opposition between the two parties as well as their political rivalry, leaving all the lips closed from both the sides. Another religio-political party in the province, Majlis Wahdatul Muslimin (MWM) has already rejected the appointment of 12 caretaker ministers in the province. NA Opp Leader Syed Khurshid Shah has already rejected the overloaded caretaker cabinet and has accused the incumbent government of planned pre-poll rigging. Recently appointed Chief Election Commissioner GB Syed Tahir Ali Shah's appointment is also being questioned for his previous activities as a PML-N activist.
With appointment of 12-member caretaker cabinet in GB including majority of PML-N activists, the transparency and authenticity of the upcoming Gilgit-Baltistan elections will not only become a question but will stay as a stain on incumbent heavily mandated democratic PML-N government.–Anwer Abbas is a correspondent for Waqt TV.