GILGIT: Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Hafeezur Rehman has removed the only female member of his cabinet, Sobia Muqaddam, for her continued absence from official meetings, travelling abroad without permission and lack of interest in government affairs.

According to a press release issued by the Chief Minister House on Sunday, Mr Rehman said minister for youth affairs and women development Sobia Muqaddam was not serious in fulfilling her duties and remained absent from cabinet meetings and her ministry’s affairs for last six months.

The release said the chief minister also sought explanation from the woman minister many times for her non-serious attitude but she didn’t respond and refused to meet the chief minister. It said the vacant ministry would be given to an ‘active’ member of GB Assembly to ensure that the affairs of the ministry did not suffer.

Meanwhile, sources said the decision to remove Sobia Muqaddam had been made after increasing rift within the ruling PML-N.

Ms Muqaddam, along with two other ministers from Diamer, had criticised the chief minister recently.

The disgruntled PML-N ministers are also accused of conspiring to bring no confidence motion in the assembly against the chief minister.

The notification about removal of Ms Muqaddam from cabinet couldn’t be issued on Sunday.

Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2019