GILGIT, July 2: The majority of Northern Areas Legislative Council (NALC) members on Tuesday demanded that the deputy chief executive, speaker and advisers should step down from their offices as they were unable to exercise their powers conferred on them under the Northern Areas Rules of Business, 1994.

Speaking on the floor, member Mehboob Ali Khan said the advisers had failed to exercise their powers as the medical superintendent of DHQ Hospital Gilgit refused to comply with the orders of NALC health adviser, Imran Nadeem, regarding the transfer of a doctor.

Another member Haji Amir Jan said the Legal Framework Order (LFO) for the Northern Areas was a “dossier containing lies” which had not only deprived the members of tabling no-confidence motions and powers to amend the LFO.

He said the LFO even empowered the Northern Areas chief executive, who is a non-elected representative, to nullify the NALC membership.

Mr Jan said the NALC speaker and deputy chief executive were responsible for this as they did not want to get powers for themselves and for the members.

Newly-elected Qari Hafizur Rahman, who contested the bypoll of Gilgit-2, after taking oath of his office, demanded of the government to conduct the hearing of his slain brother’s case on daily basis as once the killer was released on medical grounds, he would be eliminated.

He won the seat which had fallen vacant following the murder of his elder brother, Saifur Rehman.

Speaking on a point of order, Mehboob Ali Khan said the Northern Areas food department officials had restrained their adviser Sheikh Ghulam Haider from visiting and inquiring into the affairs of the department, which made a mockery of the NALC adviser’s status.

Replying to a query, Speaker Haji Sahib Khan said advisers were empowered to exercise their legitimate powers, which was also endorsed by a fresh order from the Formation and Monitoring Coordination Cell (FMCC) Northern Areas recently.

He said the advisers were empowered to look after their respective departments as their heads. The session was adjourned till Wednesday.