New Governor of Gilgit-Baltistan Mir Ghazanfar Ali Khan takes Oath
Gilgit, Pakistan: New Governor of Gilgit-Baltistan Mir Ghazanfar Ali Khan has taken Oath. Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif flown from Islamabad today to attend the Oath taking ceremony. Mir has close relations with PM family.
The oath was administered by Dr Rana Shamim, the Chief Judge of the Supreme Appellate Court of Gilgit-Baltistan.
The Prime Minister was accompanied by Information Minister Pervaiz Rasheed, legislative members of the Gilgit Baltistan Assembly, Chief Minister Hafiz Hafeez-ur-Rehman and notables of the area.
Prime Minister after oath taking ceremony distributed cheques among people who lost their properties during recent earthquake. While addressing the ceremony, Nawaz Sharif said that government was committed for the development of GB. He added that his government would introduce reforms for the betterment of GB. He informed people that construction of Lawari Tunnel will be completed by the next year.
Mir Ghazanfar Ali Khan (born 31 December 1945) is a qualified person who uses the title of Mir on his official documents since he belongs to family of Mirs who were rulers of Gilgit state before it became a part of Pakistan. The federal government of Pakistan always pays specal attenetion to Mir family and the family is also allowed to retain the former vehicle number plates bearing ‘Hunza’.
After the abolishment of Hunza State, the Northern Areas, now known as Gilgit-Baltistan region fell under the jurisdiction of the federal government. Mir Ghazanfar Ali Khan contested the elections several times from his hometown of Karimabab, Hunza and served as a member of the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly. His last position of prominence was becoming the Leader of the House and the first Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan under the rule of President Gen. Musharraf. According to rules, the governor’s post under parliamentary system is though ceremonial had Governor has no administrative powers in Gilgit-Baltistan but it still holds traditional prestige and status. The process of of constitutional transfer of power has been completed and now GB has 33-member GB Assembly and PML-N backed Chief Minister Hafiz Hafeezur Rehman along with a Governor from same area.
