• Legislators sworn in; PPP gets speaker, PML-N bags deputy speaker’s slot
• CM promises jobs in maiden speech; will take oath after Ashura
GILGIT: PPP leader Advocate Amjad Hussain was elected unopposed as Gilgit-Baltistan’s chief minister on Monday, hours after the assembly speaker and deputy speaker were elected and lawmakers were sworn in.
PPP’s Imran Nadeem Shigri, shortly after being elected as the assembly speaker, announced an election schedule for Leader of the House, setting 7:40pm as a deadline for the submission and withdrawal of nomination papers. Since no other candidate filed nominations, except PPP’s Hussain, the speaker announced at 8pm that the advocate-turned-politician was elected as the CM unopposed.
Earlier, Malik Kifayatur Rehman of the PML-N was elected deputy speaker. Also, PML-N’s local president Hafeezur Rehman was declared Leader of the Opposition. Opposition members had submitted a requisition in this regard, according to the GB speaker.
The assembly hall was crowded with the guests of newly elected lawmakers, leaders of different political parties, journalists, and other visitors, while the press gallery was filled with party supporters who chanted slogans in favour of the winning candidates.
PPP Central General Secretary Syed Nayyar Hussain Bukhari, Information Secretary Qamar Zaman Kaira, GB Governor Syed Mehdi Shah, and other politicians were present in the VIP galleries.
Earlier in the morning, a total of 30 members took oath as the first session of the sixth GB Assembly convened in Gilgit. These included 21 lawmakers elected on general seats, six women members on reserved seats and three technocrats.
The results for three general constituencies remain pending due to ongoing legal and electoral proceedings.
In his maiden speech after being elected, Chief Minister Amjad Hussain said the government would implement a comprehensive strategy to eliminate unemployment in the region, as solving problems faced by the people in Gilgit-Baltistan would remain his foremost priority.
Gilgit-Baltistan was among the richest regions in the world in terms of natural resources, he said, vowing that these resources would be utilised for human development.
The chief minister said GB had set a democratic example by electing the Leader of the House unopposed with the support of various political parties. He expressed gratitude to PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari for reposing confidence in him and nominating him for the position.
He also thanked Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for recognising the PPP’s mandate, which, he said, helped ensure the continuity of democracy in the region.
He further acknowledged the support of IPP chief Aleem Khan in facilitating the formation of the government in GB.
The PPP leader said the doors of the Chief Minister House would remain open to the public around the clock.
Earlier, at 10am, outgoing GB Assembly Speaker Nazir Ahmed administered the oath to the newly elected members of the house before adjourning the session until 3pm.
The proceedings resumed at 4pm, when the speaker announced the election schedule for the offices of speaker and deputy speaker and allowed time until 5:15pm for the filing and withdrawal of nomination papers.
Mr Ahmed also secured the house’s approval to suspend the relevant rules, enabling elections for the speaker, deputy speaker and Leader of the House to be held on the same day.
As no candidates other than PPP’s Imran Nadeem Shigri and PML-N’s Kifayatur Rehman submitted nomination papers, both were elected unopposed.
The outgoing speaker administered the oath to Mr Shigri, who then declared Kifayatur Rehman elected as deputy speaker and administered the oath to him.
After the chief minister’s speech, the speaker adjourned the assembly session for an undefined period, while it was announced that the oath-taking ceremony for GB chief minister would be held after Ashura.
Published in Dawn, June 23rd, 2026