Election schedule for GB Council to be announced in last week of March: Abid Raza

Meraj Alam

Gilgit: Gilgit Baltistan Election Commissioner Abid Raza said that elections for the Gilgit-Baltistan Council will be held in the second week of April.

Taking to Pamir Times  Election Commissioner Gilgit-Baltistan said on Tuesday that schedule for election will be announced in the last week of March 2016 positively. He said that returning officers will also be appointed with the announcement of schedule of Gilgit-Baltistan Council.

These will be the second elections after the area had been given Provincial status. First elections for the Gilgit-Baltistan Council were held in 2010. The Gilgit-Baltistan Council Election ordinance 2015 had been promulgated by G-B Governor Mir Ghazanfer Ali Khan in February 2106.

Meanwhile the GB Council consists of 15 members, the Prime Minister of Pakistan who serves as Chairman of the Council, Governor of GB, who serves as Vice Chairman, the Chief Minister of GB, six members who are elected by the Legislative Assembly under a system of a single transferable vote on priority bases and another six members who are “nominated” by the Prime minister of Pakistan from time to time from amongst Federal Ministers and members of Parliament.

The G-B Council plays a key role in policymaking and provides the essential link between the GB Government and the Government of Pakistan. It has the power to address 55 subjects like coordination with the Government of Pakistan on banking business and planning for economic coordination including scientific and technological research and make laws regarding the subjects.