GILGIT: Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly Speaker Syed Amjad Ali Zaidi resigned from his post following the submission of a no-confidence motion against him.

Mr Zaidi has tendered his resignation to Gover­nor Syed Mehdi Shah after a parliamentary party meeting of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf.

Deputy Speaker Nazir Ahmed has been nominated as the candidate for the speaker by the parliamentary party.

On Tuesday, a faction within the ruling PTI in GB had filed a no-confidence motion against the speaker of the regional legislature for “not honouring an agreement to step down after two and a half years.

Deputy Speaker Nazir Ahmed nominated to succeed Zaidi

Reportedly, an agreement was reached in 2020 that Mr Zaidi would step down after two and a half years.

However, it was claimed that Mr Zaidi refused to honour the pledge.

According to sources, GB Chief Minister Khalid Khurshid Khan persuaded Mr Zaidi to resign from his post to honour the split power decision and avoid a vote of no-confidence in the assembly.

Source said the Gilgit-Baltistan chief minister had sent the speaker’s resignation to the governor.

“I am very happy that PTI Gilgit-Baltistan has fulfilled this important election promise with mutual unity and understanding even in difficult circumstances,” the GB chief minister said in a statement.

“I pay tribute to Syed Amjad Zaidi for his decision to resign in a dignified manner to fulfill this promise.

“I strongly hope that Nazir Ahmed Advocate will use his skills and abilities to carry out the affairs of Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly in an efficient manner and establish good democratic traditions,” he said.

Published in Dawn, June 1st, 2023