Newly elected members of Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly sworn in 

Gilgit (Web Desk): The newly elected members of the Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) Assembly officially assumed their responsibilities on Monday after taking oath during the opening sitting of the region’s sixth legislative assembly in Gilgit.

The oath was administered by outgoing Speaker Nazir Ahmed Advocate.

Thirty lawmakers were sworn in during the session, comprising 21 members elected on general seats, six women elected on reserved seats, and three technocrats.

Elections in three constituencies have yet to be finalized as related legal and electoral matters are still under consideration.

Following the oath-taking ceremony, the assembly proceedings were adjourned and scheduled to resume at 3pm.
The session had originally been called for 9am to facilitate the swearing-in of the newly elected representatives and to begin the process for electing the speaker and deputy speaker.

According to the results of the June 7 polls, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) emerged as the largest political force in the assembly with 13 seats. The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) secured nine seats, while the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) won six. Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) and a PTI-supported independent candidate captured one seat each.

The PML-N and IPP have agreed to back the PPP in the contests for chief minister, speaker and deputy speaker.

The PPP has already announced its intention to establish the next Gilgit-Baltistan government with the support of the PML-N.

PPP leader Advocate Amjad Hussain is widely expected to be elected as the new chief minister. Imran Nadeem is likely to take over as speaker of the assembly, while PML-N's Malik Kifayat is expected to assume the office of deputy speaker.