2009 Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly election

{{Infobox election

| election_name = 2009 Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly election

| country = Gilgit-Baltistan

| type = parliamentary

| ongoing = No

| previous_election =

| previous_year =

| next_election = 2015 Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly election

| next_year = 2015

| seats_for_election = 24 of the 33 seats in the Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly

| majority_seats = 17

| election_date = 12 November 2009

| turnout = 60.70%

| image1 = 105x105px

| leader1 = Syed Mehdi Shah

| party1 = Pakistan Peoples Party

| leaders_seat1 = Skardu-I(won)

| seats1 = 16

| popular_vote1 = 72,851

| percentage1 = 33.08%

| posttitle = Elected Chief Minister

| after_election = Syed Mehdi Shah

| after_party = PPP

| elected_mps = Members elected

| image3 = 105x105px

| leader3 = Bashir Ahmad

| party3 = Pakistan Muslim League (Q)

| leaders_seat3 = Diamer-I (won)

| seats3 = 2

| popular_vote3 = -

| percentage3 = 9.97%

| image2 = 100x100px

| leader2 = Rehmat Khaliq

| party2 = Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F)

| leaders_seat2 = Diamer-IV (won)

| seats2 = 2

| popular_vote2 = -

| percentage2 = 15.26%

| title = Chief Minister

| before_election =

| before_party =

| map =

| map_alt =

| map_caption = Map of Gilgit-Baltistan showing Assembly Constituencies and winning parties

| map_image = File:2009 Gilgit Baltistan Assembly election results map.svg

| map_size =

}}

Elections were held on 12 November 2009 in the province of Gilgit-Baltistan for the first time to elect the first Assembly of Gilgit-Baltistan.{{Cite news|url=http://fafen.org/gilgit-baltistan-legislative-assembly-elections-fafen-recommendations-for-rule-based-voting/|title=Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly Elections FAFEN Recommendations for Rule-Based Voting|date=2009-11-12|work=Free and Fair Election Network|access-date=2018-10-18|language=en-US}}

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 in September 2009.{{Cite news|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/856300|title=Autonomy order for Gilgit, Baltistan signed|date=2009-09-08|work=DAWN.COM|access-date=2018-10-19|language=en-US}}

Parties and Candidates

264 candidates out of which 99 from 10 different political parties and 165 independent candidates contested for 24 seats across Gilgit-Baltistan.{{Cite news|url=http://fafen.org/gilgit-baltistan-legislative-assembly-elections-fafen-recommendations-for-rule-based-voting/#_ftn1|title=Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly Elections FAFEN Recommendations for Rule-Based Voting|date=2009-11-12|work=Free and Fair Election Network|access-date=2018-10-19|language=en-US}}

class="wikitable"

! colspan="2" |Party

!Seats Contested

bgcolor="{{party color|Pakistan People's Party}}" |

|PPP

|23

bgcolor="{{party color|Muttahida Qaumi Movement}}" |

|MQM-L

|20

bgcolor="{{party color|Pakistan Muslim League (N)}}" |

|PML-N

|15

bgcolor="{{party color|Pakistan Muslim League (Q)}}" |

|PML-Q

|14

bgcolor="#368a7c" |

|GBDA

|10

bgcolor="#528d6b" |

|JUI-F

bgcolor="#8b2257" |

|BNF

bgcolor="{{party color|Awami National Party}}" |

|ANP

bgcolor="#0080ff" |

|JI

bgcolor="{{party color|Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf}}" |

|PTI

bgcolor="#a6caf0" |

|IND

|165

Campaign and Polling

Voting took place on 12 November 2009 on Morning 9 AM to 4 PM without any break. 1022 polling stations were set up across Gilgit-Baltistan out of which 200 polling stations were considered sensitive. 5000 law enforcement personnel was hired for security.{{Cite news|url=https://gbtimes.wordpress.com/2009/11/12/news-polling-is-in-progress-in-gilgit-baltistan/|title=[News] Polling is in Progress in Gilgit-Baltistan|date=2009-11-12|work=Gilgit-Baltistan Times|access-date=2018-10-19|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|url=https://pakistaniat.com/2009/11/12/gilgit-baltistan-election/|title=Gilgit-Baltistan Goes to Vote {{!}} ALL THINGS PAKISTAN|date=2009-11-12|work=ALL THINGS PAKISTAN|access-date=2018-10-20|language=en-US}}

Result

The Pakistan People's Party emerged as the largest party in the assembly by winning 20 seats out of 33. The assembly members took oath on 10 December 2009 and Syed Mehdi Shah became the 1st Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan unopposed.{{Cite news|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/946640|title=GBLA members take oath|date=2009-12-11|work=DAWN.COM|access-date=2018-10-18|language=en-US}}

References

Category:Elections in Gilgit-Baltistan

Category:2009 elections in Pakistan