Bilawal welcomes Prime Minister’s invitation to form UK government, calls recognition of PPP mandate ‘democratic’
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif hosted a dinner in honor of the high-level diplomatic delegation led by PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in Islamabad on Tuesday. Photo: PID
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday invited the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) to form the government in Gilgit-Baltistan, saying the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) would support its coalition partner and opt to sit on the opposition seats in the regional assembly.
The move comes after unofficial results from Sunday’s election in Britain 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 that the PML-N would support the PPP in the government formation process.
Read: PPP and PML-N leaders meet in Gilgit to discuss formation of UK government
“Pakistan People’s Party has become the majority party in Gilgit-Baltistan, and we invite it to form the government there,” he said.
The prime minister said the PML-N had decided to be part of the opposition in the GB Assembly, but its elected members would vote in favor of the PPP to allow it to form a government.
“We have taken 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 majority recognition of the Pakistan People’s Party in Gilgit-Baltistan is a continuation of a democratic tradition. We consider the Prime Minister’s invitation to form the government as a positive step,” Bilawal said in a statement.
He said it had been agreed by consensus that the posts of governor and vice president in GB would be held by the PML-N.
“Pakistan People’s Party will use all its capabilities 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 reposing trust in us and becoming 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 discharge this responsibility to the best of its ability.
Read also: Opposition rejects UK election results
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 Britain after the June 7 elections, according to a statement issued by the PML-N on Thursday.
With coalition formation expected to determine the shape of the next administration, leaders of the two parties exchanged views on different 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 GBs and central leaders before any final decisions were taken.
Meanwhile, the election results have been questioned by several political parties.
The PTI rejected the result, alleging irregularities and manipulation in several constituencies, while Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl expressed concern over the alleged non-issuance of Form 45s in real time during the counting of votes.
Several stakeholders have also raised questions about delays in announcing results, leaving aspects of the electoral process in dispute even as coalition negotiations continue.
