The swearing-in ceremony of Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister-designate Amjad Hussain has been postponed due to scheduling issues, with a new date expected to be announced soon, according to sources.
The oath-taking ceremony was originally scheduled to take place on July 1 in Gilgit-Baltistan and was expected to be attended by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. However, the event has been deferred because of Bilawal’s unavoidable engagements.
Sources said consultations are continuing regarding the formation of the new Gilgit-Baltistan cabinet, which is expected to remain relatively small. The cabinet is likely to consist of 12 ministers and two special assistants and will reportedly be formed in two phases.
According to the sources, members elected on general seats will be inducted into the cabinet during the first phase, while the appointment of special assistants will take place later. Lawmakers from the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) are also expected to be accommodated in the initial phase of cabinet formation.
The inclusion of technocrats and members elected on reserved seats is expected to be limited, although discussions regarding the final composition of the cabinet are still underway.
Amjad Hussain was elected unopposed as the Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan after the Pakistan Peoples Party secured enough seats to form the regional government. The selection followed the completion of the assembly’s leadership process.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Hafiz Hafeez-ur-Rehman was elected unopposed as the Leader of the Opposition in the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly.
Earlier, the assembly also elected its Speaker and Deputy Speaker without opposition. PPP lawmaker Imran Nadeem was chosen as Speaker, while PML-N’s Malik Kifayat-ur-Rehman was elected Deputy Speaker.
Officials are expected to announce a revised date for the chief minister-designate’s oath-taking ceremony after consultations are completed. The formation of the new cabinet is also expected to proceed shortly after the swearing-in, paving the way for the new regional government to begin its term.