The Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly

The Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly is a 33-seat unicameral legislative body formed as part of the 2009 Gilgit-Baltistan Empowerment and Self-Governance Order, which granted the region self-governance and an elected legislative assembly. Until that, the area had been controlled directly from Islamabad.

Soon after the abolition of Basic Democracies System in Northern Areas, the then Govt. decided to constitute an Advisory Council for Northern Areas (Gilgit and Baltistan Agencies) Comprising of 21 elected and non-elected members headed by the then Resident for Gilgit and Baltistan as Chairman under KA&NA Division OM No NA-1(6)/70 dated 18th Nov. 1970.

Details of the Members of the Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly

 Nominated Members

4. Five Official Members to be Nominated by the Resident Namely
5. A representative from the Ministry of Finance.
6. A representative from Foreign Affairs
   Official Members
   Two official members from Govt. departments of Gilgit and Baltistan Agencies. The Advisory Council was functioning under the provisions of the Advisory Council for Northern Area Constitutional Order 1971.

   The Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly ELECTIONS 1970

7. The 1st term election for Advisory Council was held on 30 December 1970 and 13 return candidates were notified by the Election Commissioner Gilgit and Baltistan Agencies vide notification No. ELC 1(1)/70 dated 3rd January 1971. A separate notification in favor of one member Advisory Council (Kharmong) Raja Wajid Ali Shah was issued vide notification No. BDS 4(11)/71-1714-17 date 9th October 1971.

Functions of Advisory Council

1. To call for information and suggest improvements relating to any matter concerning the administration of the Northern Areas.
2. To advise on matters pertaining to local bodies in the Northern Areas.
3. To assign priorities for schemes and to decide on the basis of such priorities, the inclusion/exclusion of a scheme in Five Year Plans and the Annual Development Programmes within the sanctioned allotment of funds for the Plan period and the year concerned.
4. To review the progress of work of various development programs/ schemes/ projects and to recommend such steps as may be considered necessary for speedy implementation of the schemes and the maximum utilization of funds
5. To sanction individual development schemes in the public sector costing not more the Rs. 10 lacs.
6. To raise the cost of a scheme of up to 10% of the approved amount.

Northern Areas Council Legal Framework order 1975

Northern Areas Council Legal Framework order 1975 was promulgated on 3 July 1975 by Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. wherein major administrative, judicial and political reforms were introduced. Jagirdari Nazam and FCR were abolished. Advisory Council for Northern Areas was replaced by Northern Areas Council.

The Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly SECOND TERM ELECTIONS 1975

Second term elections for Northern Areas Council were held on 6-11-1975 vide notification No. Reg. HC-NTF/75 dated 11-11-1975 the following return candidates were notified:-

The Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly THIRD TERM ELECTIONS 1979

The Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly FOURTH TERM ELECTIONS 1983

The fourth term elections for Northern Areas Council were held on 26-10-1983 and the following successful candidates were notified vide notification No-ELE-1(5)/83 dated 30-10-1983.

The Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly 5TH TERM ELECTIONS 1987

The fifth term elections for Northern Areas Council were held on 11-11-1987 and the following return candidates were notified vide notification No. ELC-1(6)/87 dated 12-12-1987.

The Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly SIXTH TERM ELECTIONS 1991

The Sixth term elections for Northern Areas Council were held in November 1991. But Shia Community boycotted the elections. The following return candidates were notified:-

Northern Areas Council Legal Framework Order 1994

The Northern Areas Council Legal Framework Order 1994 was introduced on 12-6-1994 by Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, and the Legal Framework Order 1975 was repealed.

The strength of the Northern Areas Council was increased from 16 to 24 Members (Six each from Gilgit, Skardu, and Diamer and three each from Ghizer and Ghanche Districts) with two special seats for women vide No. 3/1/94-NA-I dated 02-05-1994.

Elections were held for the first time on a political basis.

The position of Deputy Chief Executive NAs was created with the status of a Federal Minister of State.

The position of five Advisors was created with the status of provincial Ministers through an amendment in the LFO 1994.

The Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly SEVENTH TERM ELECTIONS 1994

The seventh term elections for Northern Areas Council were held in October 1994 and the following candidates were declared as successful candidates:-

The Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly EIGHTH TERM ELECTIONS 1999

The Northern Areas Council was renamed as the Northern Areas Legislative Council.
The Northern Areas Legislative Council was empowered to Legislate on 49 Items.
Special seats for women were enhanced from two to five (one for each District).
The Federal Minister for KA & NA who was the chairman of NALC assumed office as the Chief Executive for Northern Areas.
The position of speaker NALC was created in July 2000 with the status of a provincial minister.
The number of Advisers was enhanced from 3 to 6, with one woman Adviser.
The position of Deputy Speaker NALC was created in October 2003 with the status of a Provincial Minister.
For the First time, Fundamental Rights were given to the Northern Areas people under Section 19-A of the Northern Areas Legal Frame Work Order 1994.
The 8th Term elections for Northern Areas Legislative Council were held in November 1999, and the following return candidates were declared vide notification No. ELC-13(21)/99 dated 16-11-1999.

The Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly Ninth Term Elections 2004

The elections to the Northern Areas Legislative Council (NALC) were held on a political party basis on 12th October 2004 in all the five districts of Northern Areas. The party position of elected members is as under:-

Nine independent Members later joined PML (Q) taking their strength from 6 to 15. Special seats for women were enhanced from five to six (one for each District) Six special seats for technocrats were created.

FUNCTIONS OF NORTHERN AREAS LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

In 1999 and 2000 the Federal Government amended the Northern Areas Legal Frame Work Order 1994, the Northern Areas Council was renamed as the Northern Areas Legislative Council, the seat of Speaker and three women members were also added and the Council was empowered to legislate on 49 items mentioned under Section 17 Schedule-II of the Legal Frame Work Order 1994.

For the 1st time, Fundamental Rights were given to the Northern Areas people under Section 19-A of the Northern Areas Legal Frame Work Order 1994.

The First Session of the NALC was summoned on 22nd November 2004, which was presided over by the outgoing Speaker (Haji Sahib Khan). The Federal Minister/Chief Executive NAs (Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat) administered Oath of office to the elected Members.

The house unanimously elected Malik Muhammad Miskeen as the Speaker and Syed Asad Shah Zaidi as Deputy Speaker. The house also elected unanimously Mir Ghazanfar Ali Khan as the Deputy Chief Executive Northern Area.

Package of 2007

The Government introduced a package of administrative and financial reforms on 15th December 2007.
LFO 1994 was renamed as NA Governance Order 1994.
Legislative Council was renamed as Legislative Assembly.
The name of Deputy Chief Executive was re-designated to Chief Executive Northern Areas.
Federal Minister for KA/NA/Chief Executive got the status of Chairman Northern Areas.

Gilgit-Baltistan Empowerment and Self Governance Order- 2009

The Government introduced a Financial and Administrative package through a presidential Order, named “Gilgit-Baltistan Empowerment and Self-Governance Order, 2009” to provide greater political empowerment and better governance to the people of Gilgit-Baltistan.

According to empowerment and self-government order- 2009

• Northern Area is renamed as Gilgit-Baltistan.
• Establishment of Gilgit-Baltistan Council.
• Appointment of Governor.
• Gilgit-Baltistan Cabinet consisting of CM, 6 Ministers, and two Advisors.
• Appellate Court is upgraded to Supreme Appellate Court.
• The number of Technocrat Seats has been reduced from 6 to 3.
• Six women’s seats remained unchanged.
• The subject under which the Assembly shall now have the power to make laws has increased from 49 to 61 while the council shall have 55 subjects.
• Gilgit-Baltistan Public Service Commission under Article 80.
• Chief Election commissioner under article 82.
• Extension of Basic Human Rights for the people of Gilgit-Baltistan.
• Establishment of Supreme Judicial Council.
• Establishment of Gilgit-Baltistan Council consolidated Fund.
• Gilgit-Baltistan Civil Service.
• Establishment of Services Tribunal.
• Appointment of Auditor General, and Accountant General.
• Emergency Provisions.

Tenth Term Elections 2009 GB Legislative Assembly

Elections were held on 12 November 2009.
24 members were Elected through direct Election.
3 Technocrats through Party Proportionate Formula.
6 Women members will be nominated through party proportionate formula.

Current members of the Legislative Assembly since 2015

1. Jafarullah Khan, Deputy Speaker (PML-N)
2. Hafiz Hafeez Ur Rehman, Chief Minister (PML-N)
3. Dr. Muhammad Iqbal, Minister (PML-N)
4. Javaid Hussain (PPP)
5. Rizwan Ali (MWM)
6. vacant
7. Akbar Khan Taban (PML-N)
8. Kacho Imtiaz Haider Khan (Ind)
9. Fida Muhammad Nashad, Speaker (PML-N)
10. Sikandar Ali (ITP)
11. Iqbal Hassan (PML-N)
12. Imran Nadeem (PPP)
13. Farman Ali, Minister (PML-N)
14. Barkat Jameel Siffat (PML-N)
15. Haji Shah Baig (JUI-F)
16. Janbaz Khan, Minister (PML-N)
17. Haider Khan (PML-N)
18. Imran Wakeel (PML-N)
19. Nawaz Khan Naji (BNF)
20. Fida Khan (PML-N)
21. Raja Jahanzaib Khan (PTI)
22. Muhammad Ibrahim Sanai, Minister (PML-N)
23. Ghulam Hussain Advocate (PML-N)
24. Muhammad Shafiq (PML-N)

Women Reserve Seats

1. Shireen Akhter (PML-N)
2. Rani Atiqa Ghazanfar (PML-N)
3. Nasreen Bano (PML-N)
4. Sobia Jabeen (PML-N)
5. Saleema Bibi (MWM)
6. Rehana Abidi (ITP)

Technocrat Reserve Seats

1. Orangzaib (PML-N)
2. Muhammad Amin Khan (PML-N)
3. Haji Muhammad Shafi, Opposition Leader (ITP)

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