Bilawal again underscores need for holding fair, free, transparent elections in GB

SHIGAR: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that during last elections in Gilgit Baltistan PPP’s nine seats were “stolen”, but he expressed the hope that this time his party will get its “full right” in the elections.

He called for elections to be held simultaneously in Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir and the rest of Pakistan, while stressing that decisions affecting the region should be made by its own people rather than in Islamabad.

Addressing an election rally in the Galabpur Tehsil of Shigar District in Gilgit-Baltistan on Monday, Bilawal said the people of Gilgit-Baltistan should have the authority to make decisions about their future, adding that choices concerning Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir and Gwadar should not be dictated from Islamabad.

The PPP chairman argued that decisions taken in the federal capital often had consequences for local communities. He maintained that a stronger and more prosperous Gilgit-Baltistan would also contribute to the stability and strength of Islamabad and the country as a whole.

Bilawal said the PPP had never sought special arrangements to secure election results in its favour. Referring to election documentation, he remarked that his party believed in genuine public support and democratic participation rather than political engineering.

The PPP chairman noted that the people of Shigar and Gilgit-Baltistan had supported the PPP for three generations and said all attempts to weaken that relationship had failed.

“Our demand is still that there should be transparent elections in Gilgit-Baltistan. You should return with Form 45 in your hands; I will handle Form 47,” he said, referring to electoral forms used in vote tabulation.

He also criticised the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), saying it could not effectively represent labourers, farmers and low-income groups. Bilawal said only the PPP could serve as the voice of ordinary citizens across the country.

The PPP leader claimed that his party remained the only political force with a strong public presence in all four provinces, as well as in Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir.

He highlighted the role of the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), saying it had provided assistance to deserving women from Gilgit-Baltistan to Balochistan. He accused rival parties of seeking cuts to welfare programmes that benefit vulnerable communities.

Paying tribute to former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Bilawal said the PPP founder had fought for the rights of ordinary people and played a key role in making Pakistan the only nuclear power in the Muslim world.

He added that Bhutto had not merely raised the slogan of food, clothing and shelter but had also worked to implement policies supporting those goals, including subsidies for Gilgit-Baltistan.

Bilawal also praised former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, describing her as a global symbol of Pakistan who dedicated her political career to representing marginalised communities. He said Pakistan’s nuclear capability had enabled the country to stand firmly on the international stage.

Turning to international affairs, Bilawal condemned the United States (US) and Israel for their attacks on Iran. He expressed hope that mediation efforts led by Pakistan’s Field Marshal Asim Munir would help ease tensions between Washington and Tehran.

He said he prayed for an early end to the Middle East conflict, adding that peace would help reduce inflation and economic pressures affecting people across the region.

The PPP chairman also praised the military leadership, saying Pakistan had achieved a significant victory during its conflict with India.

Highlighting his party’s development record, he pointed to the Thar coal project in Sindh, stating that local communities had been among the first beneficiaries of the initiative.