2015 Gilgit Baltistan Assembly election


Gilgit Baltistan Legislative Assembly Elections 2015 was an election held in the province of Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan, to elect the 2nd Assembly of Gilgit Baltistan after completion of full 5-year term of the first Legislative Assembly of Gilgit Baltistan. Polling took place on 8 June 2015.

Background

The region of Gilgit Baltistan was formerly known as Northern Areas. The Northern Areas were formed by joining Gilgit Agency and Baltistan regions in 1970 but the Northern Areas were ruled directly from Islamabad. In 2009 the Government of Pakistan passed an Autonomy Order known as Gilgit-Baltistan Empowerment and Self-governance Order, 2009 which was signed by the President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari on September 2009. After the completion of full five year term, the assembly tenure was ended on April 2015. It was second time after 2009 elections that new assembly elections held in across the province.

Campaign and Polling

495 candidates from different political parties and Independents submitted their nomination papers out of which 50 nominations were rejected. 445 candidates took part in elections. Parties like Pakistan Muslim League, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Pakistan Peoples Party stood candidates on all 24 assembly seats.
Polling took place on June 8th, 2015 without any break from morning 8 am to evening 4 pm. Total number of 1143 polling stations were setup across the province. Out of 1143 polling stations, 282 were declared highly sensitive, while 269 polling stations were declared sensitive. About 5500 Military Soldiers along with 4356 policemen were deployed to perform security duties to make peaceful polling across the province.

Result

emerged as the majority party by winning 15 out of 24 general seats. Taking into account the 4 out of 6 women seats and 2 out of 3 technocrat seats that they successfully gained, their seats increased to 22. They won a lopsided majority in the assembly.

Aftermath

The newly elected assembly members took oath on 24 June 2015. Hafiz Hafeezur Rehman was elected as 2nd Chief Minister of Gilgit Baltistan unopposed. He took oath on 26 June 2015.