Happy New Year to all our valuable readers

Gilgit-Baltistan Echo
The team of Gilgit-Baltistan Echo extends its heartiest feelings and good wishes at the end of last and eve of new year.May the comming year bring more happiness and serve to reduce, deprivations, vices and human sufferings on earth. May Lord give those all a good sense working against humanity with an illussion of virtue.

protestors come to street against Karachi carnage;speakers vowed to continue peaceful protest

GBE Monitoring report
GILGIT, SKARDU, HUNZA, Jan. 01: (Shamsuddin Muhammad) Hundreds of protestors came on Ponial road to record protest against the killings of 48 innocent people on Ashora in Karachi city. Holding play cards and banners, participants chanted slogans against lack of security measures by authorities and the extremist who have
restorted to voilance even against common people. Speaking to the ocassion, DidarAli, member, legislative assembly Gilgit-Baltistan, said that few neferous elements are trying to destroy the country through their evil designs. He condemned the killings and appealed the people to be peaceful to nulify the pursuits of non state actors. Some unknown people torched vehicle tyres in support of strike called by Jafarya Aliance and major markets and shoping centres remained closed in the city. Meanwhile, a clash was reported between security personnels and protestors leaving a few people injured.
The corpses of four martyrs were shifted to Skardu by a special aircraft out of which some were sent to Gilgit via helocopter and rest to respective villages. Speaking to a large gathering, Sheikh Hasan Jafary said that those involved in the carnage were the offsprings of Yazid. In Hunza, a rally was also organized from
Ganish village to Aliabad to agitate against killings which assembled later into a formal protest. Protestors demanded the immediate action against those involved in the carnage.

First woman governor expected for Gilgit-Baltistan;

First woman governor expected for Gilgit-Baltistan; Naheed may be the among the top prirority; PPP Gilgit-Baltistan hailed the dicision of a female governor
VoH Monitor
GILGIT, Jan. 01 :(Shamsuddin Muhamamd) The president Islamic Republic of Pakistan while speaking to a public gathering in Sindh, gave a clue that proposal of a female governor is under consider and announcement will be made soon. According to some sources, Naheed Khan, former MNA and political secretary to PPP chairperson Benazir
Bhutto may be offered the position of first governor of Gilgit-Baltistan. On the other hand,talking to a mainstream national news paper Safdar Abassi, husband of Naheed said, "We are part and parcel of the party and do not need any office,”. “We don’t need any office. What we expect from the party leadership is to consider our
proposals seriously which we have floated for the betterment of the party,” he added. Yet, internal sources of rulling party supported the notion that President Zardari may incline to offer Naheed, the slot of Gilgit-Baltistan governorship.
The controversy on appointment of governor raised when Sher Jahan Mir had given full protocol as governor and romours of his appointment lasted for many days. Yet, due to strong reservations of rulling party and others, federal government altered the decision to reconcile the situation.

Five detained in connection with BNF activist muder in Ghizar

GBE Monitoring Report
GHIZAR, January, 01, 2010:(Shamsuddin Muhammad) At least five people have been reported on Wednesday by Ghizer police on allegations of murder of Zubair Ahmed, a seventeen year activist of Balawaristan National Front (BNF), a couple of days ago. Yet, Pir Karam Ali Shah, the proclaimed winner from the district and the main figure alleged by BNF involved
in the incident is still out of approach of police.
The arrest has
been made following the demand of Grand Ghizar Jirga, formed unanimously few days ago who have undergone varous meetings with the varous stake holders including Pir Karam Ali Shah with no result. On the other hand, Ismaili council also met BNF leader Nawaz Khan Naji, who requested Nawaz Naji to play the role to pacify the chaos in the region.
VoH

Two die as the van slipped on snow covered road

GBE Report
HUNZA, Jan.01, 2010:(Shamsuddin Muhammad) Two persons have been reported dead in a road mishap new power house, Hassan abad, Hunza. According to sources, a jeep met a fatal accident, in Aliabad police limits, killing Bakhtawar Shah, the founder of Community-based Naubahar Model School, Shimshal on spot and leaving two females:Dilshad and Mah-
Jabeen injured, seriously. The victims were rushed to Aga Khan Community health centre and then shifted to Gilgit. Yet, few hours later, another victim breathed last.
The unfortunate van was heading to Oshikhandas, a village about seven killometers away from Gilgit when it slipped on snow covered dillapidating road near Hasanabad Powerhouse. Karakorum Highway is under construction has been left dangerous at varous places and the company will resume work in the spring.
Source: www.voiceofhunza.blogspot.com

Expactations verses capability-a new test of GBLA

Gilgit-Baltistan Echo
By: Shamsuddin Muhammad
The appointment of governor and ellection of members will be the final stage to complete the process of formation of government under self governance reform package, 2009. There lies controveries regarding the appointment of governor by federal government, who will be appoited by the conscent of president of Pakistan as federal representitive in the house. Under the new reform order, he has given greater powers including dissolution of assembly in consultation with Chief Minister and legislative council of the region. He will recommend the nominations for the council and head the federal public service commission Gilgit-Baltistan.
A couple of days ago, there were the romours that Sher Jahan Mir has been appointed as governor for he had given protocol resembles to the designation. As a result many predicted that federal government has appointed him as the new governor of the region. Yet, federal government hasitated to announce for many reasons. Among one is the allegation from few circles saying that federal government, in order to ease construction of Bonji and Basha dams have used a indirect mean to start construction work and reduce influence of nationalist forces in the region. He has served as an eminent banker and business analyst and expected that if appointed , will play a vital role to ensure good governance in the region on impartial basis. Instead of controversy on appointment of any person as governor, the democratic forces should plan a strategy to work collectively in the interest of the common masses.