GILGIT: The federal government has decided to appoint Anti-Terrorism Court Judge Raja Shehbaz Khan as chief election commissioner of Gilgit-Baltistan.

According to official sources, GB Governor Raja Jalal Hussain Magpoon had sent a summary to Prime Minister Imran Khan, last month, seeking appointment of the GB chief election commissioner.

The post of GB chief election commissioner has been lying vacant for last three years after retirement of Tahir Ali Shah in 2016.The summary contains three names, former judge of Supreme Appellate Muzzafar Ali, GB Chief Court retired chief judge Sahib Khan, and GB Anti-Terrorism Court Judge Raja Shahbaz Khan.

In the summary, the governor has recommended Raja Shahbaz for the post.

According to sources, the prime minister has approved the recommendation and a notification to this ef fect would be issued shortly.

By-election in Hunza constituency could not be held since GB Supreme Appellate Court disqualified Mir Salim in 2017 in a bank default case due to absence of the chief election commissioner.