Federal government is in search of a new local governor for Gilgit-Baltistan to replace Qamer Zaman Kaira, who is performing as acting governor of the area, soon after the creation of the new slot under the Gilgit-Baltistan Empowerment and Self Rule-Order-2009.
Reliable sources told Business Recorder that the federal government had earlier decided to replace PPP leader Chaudhry Manzoor Wasan with Qamer Zaman Kaira as Governor Gilgit-Baltistan but the plan was cancelled due to the information gathered about the serious concerns of the local people over the appointment of the non-local governor.
Earlier, the people of Gilgit-Baltistan welcomed the government's decision to give more powers under constitutional package but they annoyed over not appointing a local governor. Sources further said that some people from Gilgit-Baltistan have been identified for the top slot prominent among them are former IGP Sindh Afzal Ali Shigri, renowned mountaineer and PPP leader Nazir Sabir, former Deputy Chief Executive Mir Ghazanfar Ali Khan, Pir Karam Ali Shah and some retired senior army officers.
It has been observed that some local aspirants have started projecting themselves in the media and developed contacts with those who have some say in the corridors of powers aimed at availing the top slot. A senior bureaucrat of Gilgit, who has recently been retired from his service in Islamabad also hosted a dinner in Islamabad club in honour of the newly elected members of Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly and some PPP leaders in a bid to attract the attention. However, a source in PPP said that the government has given the task to some secret agencies to identify a 'right person for the right job'.
PPP sources said that the party top brass have not yet finalised the nomination of the first Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan and double minded in this regard due to the reason of governor's appointment. It is also learnt that PPP central Information Secretary Fauzia Wahab had to face serious humiliation at the hands of President Asif Ali Zardari and Information Minister Qamer Zaman Kaira due to her prompt announcement regarding the formal nomination of PPP President Gilgit-Baltistan Mehdi Shah as PPP Parliamentary Leader in the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly few days back at a press conference.
The press conference was actually arranged to announce joining of an independent member of Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly in PPP but he could not be available at the eleventh hour and Fauzia Wahab had to announce Mehdi's nomination to avoid any embarrassment before the media without consulting the senior party leaders. Federal Minister Qamer Zaman Kaira, who is also in-charge Minister and acting Governor of Gilgit-Baltistan arrived at the PPP secretariat soon after the press conference and annoyed over the move and did not endorse the decision.
Sources further said that government is confused that if Afzal Shigri, from Baltistan region is appointed as Governor then Mehdi Shah is also from Baltistan could not be given a chance for being Chief Minister on the ground that Gilgit region would have strong opposition and reservation over giving both the top positions to Baltistan, which is comparatively smaller region than Gilgit.
Hence, Afzal Shigri's appointment as Governor would reduce Mehdi Shah's chance for becoming first Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan. At the same time, PPP lobby from Gilgit side also active to bring Chief Minister's post to Gilgit.