GILGIT, March 19 Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly on Friday passed the first legislation regarding appointment of Chief Election Commission since it came into being in November 2009.

The house passed unanimously the Rules of Business and Procedure of Chief Election Commissioner Act with minor amendments. The Speaker while winding up the debate on the Act, congratulated the house for passing the first legislation in the parliamentary history of region.

The proceedings witnessed heated discussion on recruitments in various departments.

The members sought strict compliance of merit in recruitments in various departments. They also stressed the need for a mechanism to ensure transparency in recruitments.

Didar Ali, an independent member from Gilgit, said that the merit in society has been vanished and people are inducted on basis of kickbacks.

Deputy Speaker Jamil Ahmed criticized work-charge employment system in Public Works Department and called for restructuring of employment against 2 per cent contingencies.

Earlier Haji Rehmat Khaliq (JUI-F) on a point of order said PML-Q parliamentary leader Bashir Ahmed has no right to claim as Leader of the Opposition as he had betrayed his party by giving vote to an independent candidate in elections for GB Council.

He alleged horse trading in the recent elections for the GB Council and urged that this trend should be discouraged.

Dr Ali Madad Sher, a PPP member, informed the house about the progress on implementation of the announcement made by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and assured that the promises made with the people would be fulfilled.

Raja Azam of MQM from Shigar complained about the poor condition of education in Baltistan, in general, and Shigar valley in particular as more than 50 teachers in government schools were performing duties in other stations and getting salaries form their original stations thus depriving students of teaching facilities.

The Speaker adjourned the GBLA session sine die.