G-B Council polling on April 8

BY OUR CORRESPONDENT

GILGIT: Election commission Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) has fixed April 18 schedule for G-B Council, fixing April 18 as polling date.

 “Polling date will be March 18 while nomination papers will be accepted from April 5 to 8,” said a notification issued from the office of election commissioner (EC) in Gilgit.

Earlier EC had announced that polling would be held on 7th of April. However the date was changed immediately for unknown reasons.

According to the revised schedule, scrutiny of papers will be held on April 9 while appeals against the nomination papers can be filed on 11th of the same month.

The Council, headed by Prime Minister of Pakistan, enjoys a status of upper house of regional parliament, with powers to legislate on over 50 subjects including minerals, tourism, forests and energy.

The council – established in May 2009 under Article 33 of GB (Empowerment and Self Governance) Order – is represented by six members each from federal government and G-B.

According to G-B Council website, on behalf of federal government G-B Council is represented Capt (R) Muhammad Safdar, Khalid Hussain Magsi, Dr Darshan, Syed Iftikhar Ul Hassan, Isphanyar M. Bhandara and Tariq Fazal Chudhary. In addition to the 12 members, Governor G-B is Council’s Vice-Chairman while federal minister for Kashmir Affairs and G-B is also its member.

The council members are elected by the G-B assembly members through polling. Since the ruling party – Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN) – has 22 members in the 33- member G-B assembly, it will elect four members for the council whose elections take place after five years.