The Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly remains one of Pakistan’s least-understood yet constitutionally important institutions. But how do journalists, researchers, and citizens actually verify facts about its composition, powers, and current status? The answer is here.
All about the Assembly starts with the Gilgit-Baltistan Empowerment and Self-Governance Order 2009, replaced by the GB Order 2018. These federal orders act as GB’s interim constitution. They define the Assembly’s total strength at 33 seats, a 5-year term, election rules, and the powers of the Chief Minister and Governor. Any claim about “how many seats” or “who can legislate” is first cross-checked against these Orders published by the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs.2
After the 15 Nov 2020 elections, the ECP issued Form-47 and Form-49 notifications listing all 24 winners of general seats. Later, it notified six women and three technocrat seats based on proportional representation. When members are disqualified or by-elections happen, the GB Election Commission publishes fresh notifications.
The GB Legislative Assembly Secretariat in Gilgit maintains the official member directory, oath records, and session proceedings. Speaker announcements during budget or law-making sessions are recorded in Assembly minutes. These documents confirm current party positions, as members often switch parties after elections. The Secretariat also publishes bills passed and committees formed.
In July 2023, the GB Chief Court disqualified then PTI’s leader and Chief Minister Khalid Khurshid over an alleged fake degree. That judgment directly changed the Assembly’s leadership math. Court orders are public documents and often quoted by the media to explain sudden changes in government.
As of June 2026, the 3rd GB Assembly’s 5-year term ended on 29 Nov 2025. GB is now under a caretaker setup with elections pending. The new date has been announced by the federal government as June 07, 2026, for the general elections of the Gilgit Baltistan Assembly.
The current caretaker Chief Minister of the GB Assembly is Yar Muhammad, who assumed office in November 2025.
Read also: GB police announce closure of Chilas-Babusar road for all types of traffic
