In a significant development for the political landscape of Gilgit-Baltistan, candidates from the ruling coalition were elected without opposition to the key leadership positions of the region’s legislative assembly on Monday. Imran Nadeem, representing the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), secured the position of Speaker of the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly unchallenged, marking a smooth transition in the assembly’s leadership.
Following his election, the outgoing Speaker, Nazir Ahmed Advocate, formally administered the oath of office to Imran Nadeem. After taking the oath, Nadeem assumed the responsibilities and authority associated with the Speaker’s chair, overseeing the legislative proceedings of the assembly.
Meanwhile, in a parallel uncontested election, Malik Kifayat-ur-Rehman from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) was elected unopposed as the Deputy Speaker of the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly. In a reciprocal gesture, the newly sworn-in Speaker, Imran Nadeem, administered the oath of office to Kifayat-ur-Rehman, solidifying the leadership team for the assembly’s upcoming term.
These unopposed elections came on the heels of a power-sharing agreement reached earlier in the day between the PPP, PML-N, and the Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party (IPP). This coalition pact aims to establish a stable government in Gilgit-Baltistan, a region of strategic importance due to its geopolitical location and unique administrative status. The agreement reflects a collaborative approach among the major political parties to govern the northern territory effectively.
