Gilgit-Baltistan’s five-year constitutional term ended at midnight, resulting in the dissolution of the GB Assembly and the appointment of Justice (retd) Yar Muhammad Khan as the region’s new caretaker chief minister. The decision was approved by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif after the required consultations.
A notification issued by the Law Department confirmed that Justice (retd) Yar Muhammad has taken charge as caretaker chief minister. His selection was made after discussions between the outgoing chief minister, the opposition leader, and the federal minister for Kashmir Affairs. He belongs to Nasirabad village in Astore district and becomes the third caretaker chief minister in the region’s history. Once a caretaker cabinet is formed, it will oversee administrative affairs until the next assembly is elected.
The outgoing Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly completed its full five-year term, marking a significant milestone for the region’s democratic process. The assembly passed 73 laws during this period, covering various sectors. Over the five years, the region saw two chief ministers: Khalid Khurshid, who was elected in 2020 but later disqualified over a fake degree, and Haji Gulbar Khan, who took over through the PTI Forward Bloc. Gulbar’s government included coalition partners from the PPP, PML-N, and JUI.
The Assembly also witnessed changes in its leadership. Amjad Zaidi became the speaker in 2020 but was removed through a vote of no confidence after two and a half years. Nazir Ahmed was then elected speaker and will remain in the role until the next assembly is formed.
With Justice (retd) Yar Muhammad now in office, the focus shifts to forming a caretaker cabinet and preparing for general elections. The new caretaker setup is expected to ensure smooth governance and a fair, transparent electoral process in Gilgit-Baltistan.
