In the first session of the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly on Monday, PPP-nominated candidate Amjad Hussain Advocate was elected unopposed as chief minister of the region. The PML-N’s Hafiz Hafeezur Rehman was also elected as leader of the opposition.

The session was presided over by outgoing Speaker Nazir Ahmed Advocate. The PPP-nominated chief minister enjoyed the support of at least 28 members from the PPP, the PML-N, and the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party in the 33-member house.

The first session of the assembly saw 30 members take the oath, followed by the election of the two key constitutional offices: speaker and deputy speaker.

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PPP’s Imran Nadeem, a newly elected member of the G-B Assembly from Shigar district, was declared elected as speaker after no other candidate submitted nomination papers for the post within the stipulated time.

Malik Kifayatur Rehman, a newly elected PML-N member of the assembly, was elected deputy speaker unopposed as no rival candidate filed nomination papers against him. Following scrutiny of nomination papers, he was formally declared elected to the office.

Members of the assembly and political leaders congratulated both elected office-bearers and expressed confidence that they would uphold democratic traditions and ensure the smooth and impartial functioning of the House.

Malik Kifayatur Rehman is the son of late Malik Miskeen, a former speaker of the G-B Assembly from district Diamer Tangeer. He has been elected to the Assembly for the first time.

The 33-member house comprises 24 general seats, six reserved seats for women, and three seats for technocrats and professionals.  Although all nine reserved seats have been allocated, the G-B Election Commission has so far issued notifications for only 21 of the 24 general seats, taking the total number of notified members to 30.

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The party’s position in the house has now become clear.  The PPP Parliamentary Group holds 13 seats, including 9 general, 3 women, and 1 technocrat seat. The PML-N holds 9 seats, including 6 general, 2 women, and 1 technocrat seat.

The Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party has 6 seats, including 4 general, 1 woman, and 1 technocrat seat.  The MWM holds 1 general seat, while there is also 1 general seat held by a PTI-backed independent candidate. Results of three general seats from Diamer and Skardu have not yet been notified due to legal and electoral proceedings.

G-B Chief Election Commissioner Raja Shahbaz Khan announced the final results for all 24 constituencies on June 17, nearly 10 days after polling. The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) emerged as the largest party in the assembly with 11 seats, followed by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) with six.

The Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party became the third-largest parliamentary group after four successful independent candidates joined the party following the elections. The Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen secured one seat, while Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-backed independents won two seats.

Government formation

Meanwhile, PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto called on IPP President Abdul Aleem Khan to jointly form a government in G-B, according to a post on IPP’s X account.

During the phone conversation, Bilawal discussed the political situation in the region and sought support from the IPP president for the various assembly office nominees.

Khan said he accepted the PPP proposal and agreed to back the party in the upcoming elections for key positions, including the offices of chief minister and speaker of the house, as well as other important roles in the G-B Assembly.

He added IPP would stand alongside the PPP and help ensure a strong majority in the elections for the key offices.

Describing the discussion with Bilawal as “pleasant and positive,” the IPP president expressed confidence in the strengthened cooperation between the two political entities and hoped it would contribute to political stability in G-B.

A day earlier, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had nominated PPP Provincial President Advocate Amjad as the chief minister of G-B, according to a post shared by the party on X.

Read: PPP, PML-N come to agreement on forming G-B govt together

On June 20, the deliberations between PPP and PML-N regarding the distribution of offices had led to an agreement that the former would get the seat of the chief minister, while the seats of the governor, opposition leader and deputy speaker of the G-B Assembly would go to the PML-N leadership.

The PPP had secured the majority of seats during the June 7 elections. The opposition, including the PTI, had rejected the election results and alleged widespread rigging and manipulation.