GB elections to be held on August 18

ISLAMABAD: The general elections to the Gilgit Baltistan (GB) Legislative Assembly would be held on August 18, a statement from the President House said on Saturday.

According to the statement, “President Dr Arif Alvi [has] approved August 18, 2020, as the “Poll Day” for General Elections to Gilgit -Baltistan (GB) Legislative Assembly.” 

The GBLA was dissolved on June 24 after completion of its statutory term of five years and according to the rules, next general elections for the assembly should be held within 60 days from the said date.

The Election Commission GB is responsible for conducting elections in 24 constituencies of the region, it said.

Last month, a presidential order was promulgated to form a caretaker government and for extension of the Elections Act 2017 to Gilgit-Baltistan.

According to a notification issued by the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan, “Gilgit-Baltistan Election and Caretaker Amendment Order, 2020”, was issued to ensure holding of transparent elections in the region.

The presidential order said it was necessary to provide for the adaption of laws to install a caretaker government in GB for conducting a fair and transparent election. It is expedient to amend the Government of Gilgit-Baltistan Order 2018 SRO number 704 (1), 2018.

The presidential order inserted a new Article, “48-A”, under which all rules and regulations as are enforced in Pakistan would be adopted in the territory of Gilgit-Baltistan.

The Gilgit Baltistan Order of 2018 provided for administrative changes, including authorizing the Prime Minister of Pakistan to legislate on an array of subjects.

The Legislative Assembly of the Gilgit Baltistan was dissolved after it completed its five-year tenure on 24 June.

The federal government had already appointed Mir Afzal, former deputy inspector general of police (DIG) as the caretaker chief minister of the autonomous region.

Afzal became the second caretaker chief minister of GB where the slot of CM and governor was first introduced in 2009 under Governance Order 2009.