Politics
5 Reasons Why You Should Cast Your Vote in G-B Elections 2015
The people of Gilgit-Baltistan will elect their representatives for Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly in the upcoming Gilgit-Baltistan Elections on June 8, 2015. Here are the top 5 reasons why you should cast your vote, whoever your choice is.
1. You are 18+
Yes, that’s right. You can’t vote if you are not at least 18 years of age at the time of voters entry and bearing a valid Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC) or a Smart NIC. You can chant slogans and participate in rallies though.
2. You Get to Vote Once in Half a Decade
Just like in Pakistan, Gilgit-Baltistan Elections are held once in every 5 years. This means you will get the chance to vote once in half a decade. If you don’t vote right now, the next time you would get this privilege would be in 2020! That a longer wait than the World Cups and Olympics!
3. Leaders Don’t Elect Themselves, Voters Do
Though a leader might decide to contest the elections but he/she does not have the power to elect himself/herself. It’s the ultimate power of your vote that brings forward the right people to represent you in the assembly.
4. Vote is Your Right
According to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted unanimously by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948, every citizen of a recognized country has the right to use their vote to elect their representatives. Unfortunate enough for Gilgit-Baltistan, your vote can’t elect the Prime Minister or send your representative to the National Assembly, but you can still use the power of vote to send a representative of your constituency to the Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly (GBLA), a house with the powers to make decisions of you.
5. Voting for the Right Person Eliminates the Wrong One!
One of the best reasons why you should vote is to eliminate the incompetent politicians from representing you. You might not be able to stop someone from contesting the elections, but you sure can eliminate the wrong numbers but voting for the right candidate or at least a better candidate for that matter.
Contributed by Imran Ahmed Hunzai.
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Raja Jalal Hussain Maqpoon has sworn in as the 7th Governor of Gilgit-Baltistan. He was appointed by President of Pakistan Dr. Arif Alvi after the resignation of Mir Ghazanfar Ali Khan.
The former governor of Gilgit-Baltistan Mir Ghazanfar Ali Khan’s resignation was accepted by the President, which came a few days after a video scandal surfaced.
Chief Minister Gilgit-Baltistan Hafiz Hafeez Ur Rehman and Chief Justice Javed Iqbal during oath-taking ceremony of Raja Jalal Hussain Maqpoon as the new Governor of Gilgit-Baltistan at the Governor House in Gilgit
The caretaker Chief Justice of Supreme Appellate Court Gilgit-Baltistan Justice Javed Javed Iqbal took oath from the new Governor of Gilgit-Baltistan who hails from Skardu district in the Baltistan region.
Raja Jalal Hussain Maqpoon taking oath as the new Governor of Gilgit-Baltistan at the Governor House in Gilgit
The appointment letter was read by Chief Secretary Gilgit-Baltistan Babar Hayat Tarar.
The event held at Governor House in Gilgit was attended by Chief Minister Gilgit-Baltistan Hafiz Hafeez Ur Rehman, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leaders, judges, civil servants and the public.
Raja Jalal Hussain Maqpoon has formerly served as the Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf PTI Gilgit-Baltistan.
He had lost Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly elections from Skardu in 2015. His defeat came against Haji Akbar Khan Taban who won by just one vote.
According to the infamous GB Order 2018, the Governor of Gilgit-Baltistan has to be a local resident.
Governor Gilgit-Baltistan Mir Ghazanfar Ali Khan has resigned after about three years in the office. His resignation was accepted by the President of Pakistan Dr. Arif Alvi. The resignation comes after a wave of controversies surrounding a leaked video that has put his loyalty to the state under question.
Mir Ghazanfar Ali Khan had won Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly seat from Hunza. After his appointment as the Governor of Gilgit-Baltistan, his son Shah Salim Khan won the seat but controversies surrounded the Mir family until the Gilgit-Baltistan Supreme Appellate Court disqualified him.
The GBLA-6 seat is currently vacant leaving Hunza without representation at the Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly.
Mir Ghazanfar Ali Khan meets with former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in Islamabad
It is being speculated that former Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Gilgit-Baltistan leader Raja Jalal Hussain Maqpoon might be appointed the new Governor of Gilgit-Baltistan.
President of Pakistan is expected to issue the notification within the following week.
News
Gilgit-Baltistan Supreme Appellate Court Suspends GB Order 2018
The Supreme Appellate Court of Gilgit-Baltistan has suspended the newly-promulgated Gilgit-Baltistan Order 2018 following a petition by GB Council member Saeed Afzal.
The petition was filed in Supreme Appellate Court of Gilgit-Baltistan to declare the GB Order 2018 illegal. A demand of stay order was also made. According to sources, Saeed Afzal — a member of GB Council — had filed the petition in April under Article 61 of the GB Empowerment and Self-Governance Order 2009.
Gilgit-Baltistan Council is a constitutional body established in 2010 under Article 33 of Gilgit-Baltistan (Empowerment and Self Governance) Order, 2009. The Council had executive and legislative powers before being suspended by the new GB Order 2018.
Chief Judge Gilgit-Baltistan Supreme Appellate Court Rana Muhammad Shamim
Saeed Afzal, the petitioner, is one of the members of GB Council that’s powers have been restricted in the GB Order 2018. The elected members of GB Council were to hold office until elections in 2020.
The Federal Government has promulgated GB Order 2018 despite a stay order from Rana Muhammad Shamim, the Chief Judge of Gilgit-Baltistan Supreme Appellate Court which was observed as a “violation of law” by the court.
In the latest hearing of the petition, a two-member bench of the Gilgit-Baltistan Supreme Appellate Court has issued a suspension of GB Order 2018. The bench comprised of Chief Judge GB Supreme Appellate Court Rana Muhammad Shamim and Justice Javed Ahmed.
The next hearing of the GB Order 2018 case is scheduled for July 26, 2018.
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