ISLAMABAD: Gilgit Baltistan Assembly will elect its new Leader of the House today (Thursday) with four candidates in the run for the slot.
According to the schedule announced by Secretary Gilgit Baltistan Assembly Abdul Razzaq, the nomination papers for the slot of chief minister GB were received till 2pm yesterday at the assembly secretariat. Presiding officers scrutinyised the nomination papers of the candidates the same day.
The candidates include Javed Ali Manwa, Raja Azam Khan, Raja Zakaria, and Haji Gulbar Khan, all those who dissociated themselves from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and formed a like-minded group. No member belonging to any party of the Pakistan Democratic Movement filed nomination papers for the CM seat. However, three members of the Pakistan Muslim League -Nawaz (PML-N) have announced their support for the PTI’s forward bloc led by Haji Gulbar Khan.
The candidates could withdraw from the candidacy till 10 am today (July 13), while the polling for the CM slot will be held at 12pm in the assembly hall. Soon after the completion of the polling process, the votes will be counted, and the name of the successful candidate will be announced.
It is to mention here that former Chief Minister Gilgit-Baltistan Khalid Khursheed was disqualified by the chief court for having a fake degree. Out of 33 members of the GB Assembly, 31 members will cast their votes for the election of the chief minister as the speaker will not take part in the elections and one seat left vacant by former CM is yet to be filled.
With 17 members, Pakistan Tahreek-e-Insaf is the single largest party in the Gilgit-Baltistan, however, it seems divided in three factions. One of the factions is led by Raja Azam — party’s nominated candidate for the CM slot while the other groups are headed by defectors Haji Gulbar Khan and Javed Manwa. The party position in the House is as follows; PDM 9 members, MWM 3 members, TI and JUI 1 each.
