GILGIT – The Pakistan People Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) have formalized a political understanding and cooperation framework in the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly, as announced during a joint press conference held in Gilgit on Saturday night.
PML-N Backs PPP Candidates
Speaking at the press conference, PML-N Gilgit-Baltistan President and former Chief Minister Hafiz Hafeezur Rehman declared that his party would vote in favor of the PPP candidate for the position of Leader of the House (Chief Minister). He further stated that PML-N would also support the PPP candidate in the election for the Speaker of the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly.
Hafiz Hafeezur Rehman explained that under the formula agreed upon at the federal level, the offices of Governor and Deputy Speaker in Gilgit-Baltistan would be allocated to PML-N. This distribution of key positions is part of the broader cooperation between the two parties.
Mutual Support for Stability
PPP leaders expressed gratitude to the PML-N leadership for announcing its support for their candidate for Leader of the House. Addressing the joint press conference, leaders of both parties affirmed that they would support each other in the assembly in the larger interest of Gilgit-Baltistan. Their shared goals include ensuring political stability, addressing public issues, and promoting development in the region.
PPP Gilgit-Baltistan President Amjad Hussain Advocate, responding to a question regarding a possible alliance with the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP), stated that any decision on the matter would be taken by PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. This indicates that the PPP leadership will make strategic decisions on further alliances.
Senior Leaders Attend
The press conference was attended by senior PPP leaders, including Qamar Zaman Kaira, Nayyar Hussain Bukhari, and Amjad Hussain Advocate. Representing PML-N were former Chief Minister Hafiz Hafeezur Rehman and the party’s parliamentary members. The presence of these high-profile figures underscores the significance of the agreement.
Political Observers' View
Political observers view the understanding between the two major parties as a significant step toward the formation of a stable political setup in Gilgit-Baltistan and the promotion of effective governance in the region. The alliance is expected to facilitate smoother legislative processes and better address the needs of the local population.
