By Mumtaz Alvi
The Gilgit-Baltistan chief minister-designate, Syed Mehdi Shah, has accused the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) activists of triggering violence during the recently-held Legislative Assembly elections.
In an informal chat with ‘The News’ here on Wednesday night, Medhi Shah, who is the president of Gilgit-Baltistan PPP, pointed out that MQM took part in the electoral process for the first time and the people of the region witnessed a wave of unrest.
The PPP leader, who will be the first chief minister after the announcement of a package for Gilgit-Baltistan, said the topmost priority of his party and government would be to maintain peace, which was a prerequisite for prosperity and progress.
About MQM self-exiled leader Altaf Hussain’s criticism of PPP and allegations of rigging, he challenged the MQM leader to contest election from Gilgit-Baltistan and he would quit politics, if Altaf gets victory against him. “MQM has no say in Gilgit-Baltistan politics and this is what was reflected in the recent elections results,” he contended.
Mehdi Shah dismissed the allegations of rigging as mere propaganda after the rival parties were inflicted with crushing defeats and gave credit to ex-prime minister late Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto for PPP’s historic performance in Gilgit-Baltistan polls.
“It is because of the reforms by PPP’s great leaders President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani that the party bagged so many seats,” he maintained. To a question, he said they would leave no stone unturned to make the constitutional package given to the Gilgit-Baltistan by the Centre a success.