Amjad Hussain takes oath, becomes Gilgit-Baltistan CM
· Geo News- Governor administers oath ceremony.
- Youth, women praised for participation.
- CM thanks party leadership.
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Amjad Hussain Advocate was sworn in as the new chief minister of Gilgit-Baltistan on Monday, following his party’s victory in the 2026 regional elections.
Gilgit-Baltistan Governor Syed Mehdi Shah administered the oath to the newly elected chief minister at a ceremony in Gilgit.
Addressing the ceremony, Chief Minister Hussain said the PPP had emerged as the largest party in Gilgit-Baltistan in the June 7 elections.
He said young people and women had played a significant role in the 2026 elections, while PPP candidates secured victories in their respective constituencies.
“I thank those who gave the Pakistan Peoples Party a 100% result in the elections,” he said.
The chief minister said the people had continued the longstanding tradition of placing their trust in the PPP by giving the party a strong mandate and greater responsibilities.
“This relationship is not new; it spans three generations,” he said. The CM said the PPP had secured a strong mandate in Diamer for the first time.
Hussain added that despite the PPP not being in power at the Centre, the people had once again reposed confidence in the party.
He also expressed gratitude to the party leadership for its support.
Hussain also thanked the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leadership for giving the PPP the opportunity to form the government.
Hussain — who was elected unopposed as no other member submitted their nomination papers for the top post — has become the fifth chief minister of Gilgit-Baltistan. He was elected from the GBA-1 constituency in the GB Legislative Assembly elections and is also the President of the PPP GB chapter.
Bilawal vows GB local polls before winter
Addressing the ceremony, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari announced that local government elections in GB would be held before winter.
The PPP chairman thanked Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for recognising his party's mandate, saying the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) representatives in GB had supported the PPP.
Bilawal criticised confrontational politics, saying he did not want the kind of politics seen elsewhere in Pakistan to take root in GB.
"The government in GB belongs to both those who won and those who lost," he said, adding that no political party should feel excluded.
On regional issues, Bilawal said that India had not accepted its military defeat in the May 2025 war, accusing Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi of pursuing conspiracies through neighbouring countries.
The PPP chief vowed that Pakistan would defend the Indus River and would not compromise on the Indus Waters Treaty.