Will personally monitor party campaign for elections in GB: Bilawal

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that he would personally monitor the party campaign for elections in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) to be held on 18 August.

Addressing a meeting of his party leaders of GB through video link, he said elections were scheduled in Gilgit Baltistan (GB) amid the COVID-19 pandemic, a press release issued by the party secretariat here said.

The meeting was attended by Syed Mehdi Shah, Amjad Hussain Advocate, Sadia Danish, Eng. Ismail, Muhammad Moosa, Muhammad Jafar, Mohd. Ali Aftab, Imran Nazir, Ali Muhammad Sher, Ayub Shah, Abbas Moosvi, Shamsuddin, Atiq Advocate, Bashir Ahmed, Aftab Haider and Agha Muhammad Ali Shah.

The PPP leaders apprised the PPP chairman of the political and coronavirus situation in the GB. Bilawal directed the PPP candidates to run their election campaign with proper standard operating procedures.

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

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.

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 had 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.