Bilawal welcomes PM’s invitation to form GB government, expresses recognition of PPP mandate ‘democratic’
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif hosted dinner in honor of high-level diplomatic delegation led by PPP PC Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in Islamabad on Tuesday. Photo: PID
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday invited the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) to form the government in Gilgit-Baltistan, saying the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) would support its coalition partner while opting to sit on the opposition benches in the regional assembly.
The move comes after unofficial results from Sunday’s UK election showed the PPP leading with 11 of the 24 contested seats. PML-N was leading in five constituencies, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) in three, its ally Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen (MWM) in one, while independent candidates were ahead in two constituencies.
According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, Prime Minister Shehbaz said that the PML-N would support the PPP in the government formation process.
Read: PPP, PML-N leaders meet in Gilgit to discuss GB government formation
“The Pakistan Peoples Party has emerged as the majority party in Gilgit-Baltistan and we invite it to form the government there,” he said.
The Prime Minister said that the PML-N had decided to sit in the opposition in the GB Assembly, but its elected members would vote for the PPP to enable it to form the government.
“We have taken this decision in accordance with democratic traditions and values. PML-N has always maintained a relationship of mutual respect with its allied parties,” he said.
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari welcomed the Prime Minister’s statement and thanked him for inviting the party to form the next administration in the region.
“The recognition of the Pakistan People’s Party’s majority in Gilgit-Baltistan is a continuation of a democratic tradition. We see the Prime Minister’s invitation to form the government as a positive step,” Bilawal said in a statement.
He said that it had been agreed through consensus that the office of Governor and Deputy Speaker of GB should be held by PML-N.
“Pakistan People’s Party will use all its opportunities to serve the people of Gilgit-Baltistan,” he said.
Bilawal also thanked the people of the region for making PPP the largest political party in the region.
“By placing their trust in us and making us the largest political party in Gilgit-Baltistan, the people have entrusted us with the responsibility of ensuring the protection of their property rights, labor rights and constitutional rights,” he said, adding that the party will fulfill this responsibility in the best possible way.
Also read: Opposition rejects GB election results
A day before the announcement, senior leaders of PPP and PML-N met in Gilgit to discuss various proposals for the formation of the next government in GB after the June 7 elections, according to a statement issued by PML-N on Thursday.
With coalition building expected to determine the shape of the next administration, leaders of the two parties exchanged views on various options for government formation and agreed to continue consultations.
The delegations also agreed that the proposals discussed during the meeting would be presented to their respective GB and central managements before final decision was taken.
Meanwhile, the election result has been challenged by several political parties.
The PTI rejected the result alleging irregularities and manipulation in a number of constituencies, while the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl raised concerns over the alleged failure to issue Forms 45 in real time during the counting of votes.
Questions have also been raised by various stakeholders over delays in the publication of results, leaving aspects of the electoral process under dispute even as coalition talks continue.
