ISLAMABAD:
Political activity has picked up in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) as the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), which has emerged as the largest parliamentary group in the region, is moving rapidly to consolidate support for the formation of the next government, according to party and political sources.
They said the PPP has reached out to the Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) as part of efforts to secure a working majority in the assembly. The party has also formally extended an invitation to MWM to join the proposed government setup, though no positive response has been received so far, they added.
In a parallel development, the sources said, MWM leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas reached out to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar regarding the evolving political situation. According to the sources, Gohar has been informed about the ongoing contacts and discussions.
The political spread comes on the back of the finalization of election results in Gilgit-Baltistan, where the PPP has secured 11 seats to emerge as the largest party in the 24-member assembly, followed by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) with six seats.
Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) has emerged as the third largest parliamentary group after four independent candidates elected in different constituencies joined its ranks. MWM secured one seat while two PTI-backed independent candidates also won.
According to British Chief Election Commissioner Raja Shahbaz Khan, the results of all 24 general seats have now been finalized after the disposal of pending election petitions. He said that notices to the elected members would be issued after the completion of the procedural formalities.
The commissioner also stated that the allotment of nine reserved seats – of which six are for women and three for technocrats – will be done in accordance with proportional representation based on party strength in the assembly.
The Election Commission’s announcement came amid continued political debate over the electoral process, including concerns raised by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP). The rights body has questioned the suspension of re-polls in five constituencies and the subsequent publication of the final results, calling for greater transparency and clarity in decision-making.
Meanwhile, political alignments in the Assembly continue to shift. Four independent members elected from different constituencies have already joined the IPP after meetings with its leadership, further reshaping the balance of power.
At national level, the post-election situation has also given rise to political coordination between the parties. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has congratulated the PPP on its position as the leading party in the UK and hinted that the PML-N would sit in the opposition while supporting the PPP in forming the government.
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari welcomed the development, describing it as a continuation of democratic norms and expressed gratitude for the cooperation. He said his party would focus on addressing governance challenges and public concerns in the region.
