CM-elect to take oath today as PPP chief Bilawal arrives in Gilgit-Baltistan

Gilgit – Advocate Amjad Hussain is set to take the oath as the chief minister-elect of Gilgit-Baltistan today in Chinar Bagh. The swearing-in ceremony, initially scheduled for July 1, was postponed due to the absence of his party chairman, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, who traveled to Iran for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s funeral.

Bhutto-Zardari returned from Tehran and arrived in Skardu on Sunday, where he was welcomed by Governor Syed Mehdi Shah, CM-elect Hussain, and senior Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leaders before proceeding to Gilgit. Hussain was elected unopposed as the Leader of the House in the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly on June 22.

During his visit, the PPP chairman is also scheduled to attend a memorial for the martyrs of the Gilgit-Baltistan War of Independence and address the gathering. Following this, Governor Shah will administer the oath to CM-elect Hussain. The ceremony is expected to be attended by central and local PPP leadership, members of the GB Assembly, government officials, and a large number of party workers.

Sources indicate that Bhutto-Zardari will also discuss and finalize the composition of the Gilgit-Baltistan cabinet. The PPP has decided to include the Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party (IPP) in the government, acknowledging their support for the PPP's chief minister candidate. Both parties have reportedly agreed to allocate three ministries to the IPP. The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) also backed the PPP's candidate under an agreement between their central leaderships. This understanding includes the PML-N securing the deputy speaker position, the governor's post, and the slot of the opposition leader in the GB Assembly.

In a separate development, the Gilgit-Baltistan Supreme Appellate Court has ordered re-polling at the Loshi Polling Station in GBA-15 Diamer. The court directed the GB chief election commissioner to promptly announce a new schedule and conduct re-polling at the Loshi Thak female polling station. Re-polling has also been ordered at eight polling stations in GBA-17 Diamer. Proceedings for the GBA-9 Skardu case have been adjourned until Monday.