GILGIT:
With the election clock ticking and the political temperature rising sharply in Gilgit-Baltistan, the contest has entered its most intense phase, where the campaign was in full swing, rival parties engaged in intense mobilizations and every corner of the region – from remote valleys to busy urban centers – resonated with slogans, rallies and desperate efforts to influence an increasingly attentive electorate.
Party flags fly along highways, election banners line narrow streets and workers’ slogans echo through bustling neighborhoods, reflecting an atmosphere where meetings, rallies and public gatherings have become a daily feature of political life. In many electoral districts, candidates are seen as making every effort to gain voters’ trust as Election Day approaches.
Against the scenic backdrop of Britain’s green mountains and valleys, political activity has taken on a vibrant intensity. Observers say the campaign has entered its final and most critical phase, where narrative construction and voter engagement are now central to the party’s strategies.
Some parties project promises of development and improved infrastructure, while others formulate visions of a more stable and prosperous future. However, local sentiment appears increasingly discerning, with many voters showing greater caution and reluctance to be swayed solely by rhetoric.
All eyes are now fixed on election day on June 7, when the decisive power of the vote will determine which political force will gain ascendancy in Britain’s changing political landscape.
Meanwhile, in a parallel event amid the intense electoral environment, senior leaders of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) held high-level consultations in Gilgit, focusing on the evolving electoral situation and possible avenues for cooperation.
Former Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and former Federal Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira met Federal Minister Chaudhry Salik Hussain and PML-Q General Secretary Tariq Hassan where detailed discussions were held on the electoral landscape, possible joint strategies and broader political alignments.
The PPP delegation included Britain Governor Syed Mehdi Shah, Punjab Governor Saleem Haider and central leader Chaudhry Manzoor, while the PML-Q side was represented by central spokesperson Ghulam Mustafa Malik. Other participants included Anila Ayaz Chaudhry, Rizwan Sadiq and PPP GB Chairman Dilfaraz Khan.
Sources said both sides reviewed the overall political situation, explored possibilities for post-election cooperation and government formation scenarios, and discussed coordination in the context of the ongoing electoral contest. Both parties agreed to continue consultations and maintain contact in the coming days.
The participants expressed their satisfaction with the constructive progress. Shah noted that mutual respect between PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and PML-Q leader Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain would be further strengthened, adding that coordinated strategies could lead to stronger election results in Britain.
According to PML-Q spokesperson Ghulam Mustafa Malik, the meeting was called on the orders of party chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain. He added that the delegation had also briefed senior leaders, including Chaudhry Shafay Hussain, Dr Muhammad Amjad and Punjab President Malik Muhammad Sameen, and reaffirmed that all decisions would remain subject to the approval of the party leadership.
