The leaders reaffirm their commitment to playing a positive role in promoting political stability and public well-being.
GILGIT-BALTISTAN:
Consultations on the formation of a government in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) began on Friday when delegations of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) met in Gilgit to discuss the political situation in the region, government formation and other matters of mutual interest, according to a press release.
The PPP delegation, comprising General Secretary Syed Nayyar Hussain Bukhari, Qamar Zaman Kaira and Amjad Hussain Advocate, received the IPP delegation led by the party’s Central General Secretary Mian Khalid Mahmood. The IPP team also included GB President and former Chief Minister Haji Gulbar Khan, former Governor Raja Jalal Hussain Maqpoon and GB General Secretary Fatehullah Khan.
During the meeting, both sides held detailed discussions on the formation of the next government in Britain, as well as other key political and administrative issues facing the region. The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to promoting political stability, strengthening democratic institutions and promoting public welfare in Britain.
According to the press release, there was consensus that all political actors should move forward through mutual understanding, respect and democratic processes to put GB on the path to sustainable development and prosperity.
Participants expressed hope that the government formation process, carried out through democratic and political means, would serve the best interests of the people of the region.
Both sides agreed to continue consultations in the coming days and reiterated their commitment to work together for political stability, sustainable development and improved public service delivery in Gilgit-Baltistan.
On June 16, four newly elected independent members of the GB Assembly announced their decision to join the IPP following a meeting with party president and federal minister Abdul Aleem Khan.
Read: Four newly elected independent GB Assembly members join IPP
Lawmakers who announced their affiliation to the party include Anwar Ali, elected from G-BA-23 Ghanche-II; Dr. Asad Shafiq, elected from G-BA-24 Ghanche-III; Muhammad Dilpazeer, elected from GBA-15 Diamer-I; and Aman Ali Amir, elected from GBA-21 Yasin.
Ten days ago, a broad opposition alliance, including Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), rejected the GB election results, alleging widespread fraud and manipulation, and announced plans for protests and further political action.
At a press conference, PTI chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan declared the polls “fake and manipulated”, and announced that the party would hold a “black day” in Britain on swearing-in day and publish a white paper detailing the alleged irregularities.
He claimed that the PTI had scored clear victories in at least eight constituencies and possessed Form 47 results for three seats.
Senate opposition leader Raja Nasir Abbas, who also heads the MWM party, alleged large-scale manipulation, citing delays in results and their selective dissemination as factors raising serious questions about transparency.
He claimed that an “information blackout” in the region was aimed at hiding facts and accused the authorities of depriving PTI candidates of a level playing field.
It alleged political interference, local-level coercion and engineered defections, saying such practices had distorted the electoral environment.
“The public mandate has been stolen and redistributed,” he said, warning that undermining genuine political leadership could create a dangerous vacuum and erode trust in the state.
