GILGIT: Thirty newly elected members of the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly took oath on Monday, formally launching a new legislative term and setting the stage for the formation of a new regional government.
The oath-taking ceremony took place during the assembly’s inaugural session. Speaker Nazir Ahmed Advocate presided over the proceedings and administered the oath to the lawmakers.
He congratulated the members after the ceremony.
The newly sworn-in legislators represent several political parties and independent groups that won seats in the recent Gilgit-Baltistan elections.
According to assembly records, the lawmakers include 13 members from the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), nine from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), six from the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP), and one from Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM). The assembly also includes independent members backed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
The swearing-in marked the first formal step toward the formation of a new government in the region.
The assembly will now move to elect the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, and Leader of the House, who will serve as Chief Minister.
According to local reports, PPP leader Imran Nadeem has secured the Speaker’s position unopposed.
PPP’s Amjad Hussain Advocate is also expected to become the next Chief Minister. Reports indicate that he could win the post unopposed after the completion of the Speaker’s election.
Under assembly rules, lawmakers must elect the Speaker before holding the Chief Minister’s election.
After administering the oath, Speaker Nazir Ahmed Advocate adjourned the session until 3 pm.
The assembly is scheduled to reconvene later in the day to elect the Speaker and Deputy Speaker.
Meanwhile, election results from three Gilgit constituencies remain unnotified because of a court order.
As a result, the assembly has begun functioning without representation from those constituencies pending the completion of legal proceedings.
