Gilgit (Web Desk): Haji Gulbar Khan, a leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PT) forwar bloc, was elected as the new chief minister of Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) on Thursday.
Gulbar secured 19 out of 20 votes while Raja Azam Khan, who had been endorsed by Khurshid as his successor, boycotted the election, the Radio Pakistan reported.
Javed Ali Manwa, who was leading one of the three forward blocs within the PTI, also boycotted the polls along with Muhammad Zakria Maqpoon.
After his election, Chief Minister Gulbar Khan expressed his commitment to work for peace and prosperity of Gilgit-Baltistan. He thanked all the members who voted for him.
Glubar Khan's election was held following the disqualification of Khalid Khurshid Khan as chief minister by the Gilgit-Baltistan's chief court in a fake degree case on July 4.
In the 32-member house, the PTI has 19 members, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) 4, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) 3 and the Muttahida Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) 3 as well, while the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) and Islam Tehreek Pakistan (ITP) have one each, along with one independent candidate.
Gulbar Khan, who belongs to the Diamer district, was leading a forward bloc within the PTI and had previously declared he would contest for the position independently.
He served as the GB health minister during the previous PTI government.
As per the GB assembly’s website, Gulbar took oath as its member on Nov 15, 2020 from the GBA-18 Diamer-IV constituency of the Darel district.
