Amjad Hussain Advocate, a leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), was officially sworn in as the chief minister of Gilgit-Baltistan on Monday after his party’s triumph in the 2026 regional elections. The oath-taking ceremony was conducted by Gilgit-Baltistan Governor Syed Mehdi Shah in Gilgit.
During his address, Chief Minister Hussain highlighted the PPP’s emergence as the largest party in the region following the June 7 elections. He acknowledged the crucial role played by youth and women in the electoral process, noting that PPP candidates secured victories across their constituencies. “I extend my gratitude to those who delivered a 100% success rate for the Pakistan Peoples Party in these elections,” he stated.
Hussain emphasized the enduring trust the people of Gilgit-Baltistan have placed in the PPP, describing it as a bond that has lasted through three generations. He pointed out that the party secured a significant mandate in Diamer for the first time. Despite the PPP not holding power at the federal level, the chief minister expressed appreciation for the continued confidence shown by the electorate. He also thanked the party leadership for their unwavering support.
In a notable gesture, Hussain extended his thanks to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leadership for allowing the PPP to form the government. Elected unopposed—since no other candidate submitted nomination papers for the chief minister position—Hussain has become the fifth chief minister of Gilgit-Baltistan. He represents the GBA-1 constituency in the Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly and serves as the President of the PPP’s Gilgit-Baltistan chapter.
At the ceremony, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari announced plans to hold local government elections in Gilgit-Baltistan before the onset of winter. He expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for acknowledging the PPP’s mandate and noted the support extended by PML-N representatives in the region. Bilawal criticized divisive politics and expressed his desire to prevent such confrontational approaches from emerging in Gilgit-Baltistan. “The government here belongs to both the victors and the defeated,” he said, stressing that no political party should feel marginalized.
Addressing regional concerns, Bilawal accused Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi of continuing conspiratorial actions through neighboring countries, despite India’s military defeat in the May 2025 conflict. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to defending the Indus River and stated there would be no compromise on the Indus Waters Treaty.
