Gilgit-Baltistan’s five-year constitutional term officially came to an end at midnight, leading to the dissolution of the GB Assembly and the appointment of Justice (retd) Yar Muhammad Khan as the region’s new caretaker chief minister.
The move, approved by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif following mandatory consultations, sets the stage for the upcoming general elections in the mountainous region.
According to a notification issued by the Law Department in Gilgit, Justice (retd) Yar Muhammad Khan has formally assumed the role of caretaker chief minister. His appointment was finalized after consultations between the outgoing chief minister, the opposition leader, and the federal minister for Kashmir Affairs.
Justice (retd) Yar Muhammad, who hails from Nasirabad village in Astore district, becomes the third caretaker chief minister in Gilgit-Baltistan’s political history. Once his cabinet is formed, the caretaker government will take over administrative responsibilities until the next GB Assembly is elected.
Five-year GB Assembly completes term
The Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly successfully completed its five-year constitutional term, marking a full cycle of legislative activity. The assembly was officially dissolved at 12 midnight as per constitutional requirements.
During this term, the Assembly passed 73 laws, reflecting significant legislative activity across diverse sectors.
The five-year period saw two chief ministers in office. Initially elected in 2020, Khalid Khurshid served as chief minister until he was disqualified by a court for possessing a fake degree. Following his removal, Haji Gulbar Khan was elected chief minister through the PTI Forward Bloc.
Gulbar’s government included coalition partners from the PPP, PML-N, and JUI, shaping the political landscape of the current assembly.
Shifts in assembly leadership
In 2020, Amjad Zaidi took oath as the speaker of the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly. However, after two and a half years, a vote of no confidence led to his removal.
Nazir Ahmed was subsequently elected as the new speaker and will retain the position until the Assembly is reconstituted following the next general elections.
With the appointment of Justice (retd) Yar Muhammad and the upcoming formation of his cabinet, the caretaker government is now tasked with ensuring continuity of governance and facilitating the transition toward free and fair general elections in Gilgit-Baltistan.
