Newly Elected Members Sworn In to Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly

Newly elected members of the Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) Assembly were sworn in on Monday, commencing the first session of the sixth assembly. Outgoing Speaker Nazir Ahmed Advocate administered the oath to a total of 30 members.

The newly sworn-in members include 21 lawmakers elected on general seats, six women on reserved seats, and three technocrats. Results for three general constituencies are still pending due to ongoing legal and electoral proceedings. The assembly session was subsequently adjourned until 3 p.m. The session was originally scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. for the swearing-in ceremony and the subsequent election of the speaker and deputy speaker.

Following the June 7 elections, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) secured 13 seats, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) won nine seats, and the Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party (IPP) obtained six seats. The Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen (MWM) and a PTI-backed independent candidate each secured one seat. Both the PML-N and the IPP have announced their support for the PPP in the upcoming elections for the chief minister, speaker, and deputy speaker. The PPP has confirmed its intention to form the government in GB with the backing of the PML-N. Advocate Amjad Hussain of the PPP is anticipated to be elected chief minister, while Imran Nadeem is expected to take on the role of speaker. Concurrently, Malik Kifayat of the PML-N is slated to become the new deputy speaker.