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 G-B elections showed the PPP leading in 11 of the 24 seats contested. The 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, PM Shehbaz said the PML-N would support the PPP in the government formation process.
“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 premier said the PML-N had decided to sit in the opposition in the G-B Assembly, but its elected members would vote in favour of the PPP to enable it to form the government.
“We have made this decision in accordance with democratic traditions and values. The 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 Peoples Party’s majority in Gilgit-Baltistan is a continuation of a democratic tradition. We view the prime minister’s invitation to form the government as a positive step,” Bilawal said in a statement.
He said it had been agreed through consensus that the offices of the governor and deputy speaker in GB would be held by the PML-N.
“The Pakistan Peoples Party will utilise all its capabilities in serving the people of Gilgit-Baltistan,” he said.
Bilawal also thanked the people of the region for making the 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 to ensure the protection of their ownership rights, employment rights and constitutional rights,” he said, adding that the party will fulfil this responsibility in the best possible manner.
A day before the announcement, senior leaders of the PPP and the PML-N met in Gilgit to discuss various proposals for the formation of the next government in G-B following the June 7 elections, according to a statement issued by the PML-N on Thursday.