Reserved seats: Certain decisions by G-B EC affect PPP’s final tally: Bukhari

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Secretary General Nayyar Hussain Bukhari said that certain decisions by the Election Commission of Gilgit-Baltistan regarding reserved seats affected the party’s final tally.

He said that, in line with democratic principles, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif extended an offer to PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to form the government in Gilgit-Baltistan.

“As part of the political understanding, it has been agreed that the offices of Governor, Deputy Speaker, and the Leader of the Opposition will be allocated to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). While the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party expressed interest in the office of Speaker, the prior agreement with PML-N was upheld,” he said in a statement on Wednesday.

Bukhari further confirmed that PML-N will sit on the opposition benches in the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly.

“The PPP remains committed to serving the people of Gilgit-Baltistan,” he said.

He said that, following the election results in Gilgit-Baltistan, the PPP was in a position to form the government with a simple majority.

“The public mandate reflects recognition of the rights and constitutional reforms secured for the region under PPP leadership.”

Reiterating the party’s position on constitutional representation, he stated that the PPP supports granting representation to Gilgit-Baltistan in the National Assembly. Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has proposed on the floor of Parliament that interim representation for Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir be ensured in both the National Assembly and the Senate.

He said that the PPP would consult with other political parties to build consensus on granting full constitutional rights to Gilgit-Baltistan.

Paying tribute to the sacrifices of the people of the region, Bukhari recalled the martyrdom of Lalak Jan Shaheed of Gilgit-Baltistan in the defence of Pakistan.

On the Kashmir issue, he said the PPP’s founding chairman, Quaid-e-Awam Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, established the party’s enduring commitment to the Kashmir cause. Both Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto consistently highlighted the Kashmir dispute at the United Nations and other international forums.

“Today, Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari continues to be a strong and effective voice against human rights violations in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir,” Bukhari added.

He said, “We are confident that the people of Kashmir will repose their trust in the PPP in recognition of its historic and unwavering struggle for their rights.”

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026