November 15, 2006	Wednesday	Shawwal 22, 1427

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HUNZA, Nov 14: Deputy Chief Executive Northern Areas Ghazanfar Ali Khan who is also the chairman of Silk Route Dry Port Trust agreed to an arbitrated settlement of Sost dry port dispute.

In a meeting with the arbitration committee here on Monday, he expressed confidence and support to the committee, consisting of the notables of Hunza valley.

The committee, headed by Sultan Madad, comprises 42 prominent political and social figures met Ghanzafar Ali Khan, Atiqa Ghazanfar and Salim Khan at Karimabad Hunza.

"Being an elected representative of Hunza, it is my duty to protect the rights and interests of the people," he observed.

He assured that he and his family would accept and abide by the decisions of the committee. He asked the committee to conduct audit of accounts of the dry port from 1999 to 2004.

He held Mirza Hassan and his companions responsible for all the mismanagement in the accounts and documentation whereas Salim Khan, his son, took charge of the port in 2005 and his period should also be brought to accountability.

He denied that he and his family were involved in corruption and misappropriations. He further said that he has struggled a lot for the creation of the dry port and wished to benefit the people of Hunza and Northern Areas from it.

NALC member Atiqa and Mr Salim also assured the committee of their cooperation. They termed the recent controversial developments as baseless and illegal meant at their defamation. Prince Salim presented various documents in support of his arguments and assured to give written consent to authorise the committee on behalf of his family as soon as a prescribed requirement of the committee.

Sultan Madad convener of the committee has expressed optimism that the conflict will be resolved as all the groups have expressed their confidence in the committee which is impartial.