PPP Names Amjad Hussain as Chief Minister Candidate
The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has officially nominated its provincial president, Amjad Hussain, also known as Amjad Advocate, for the position of chief minister of the Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) region. The announcement came on Sunday, just hours after the GB election commission confirmed that the PPP secured the highest number of seats in the recently concluded general elections.
According to a party statement, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari made the decision to appoint Amjad Hussain as the chief minister. Bhutto-Zardari spoke directly with Hussain over the phone, instructing him on government formation and the implementation of the people's constitutional and economic rights.
Election Results and Seat Distribution
The GB election commission released the final election results on Friday, showing the PPP winning nine seats. The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) followed with six seats, while the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) secured four seats. After the notification of reserved seats, the PPP's strength in the 33-member assembly increased to 13 seats, the PML-N to nine, and the IPP to six. The Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen party won one seat, and an independent candidate also claimed a seat. Official results for three constituencies remain pending due to ongoing legal and electoral proceedings.
Election Process and Delays
Thousands of voters cast their ballots across GB on June 7. However, results in several constituencies were delayed as election authorities awaited the completion of partial re-polling in selected polling stations. The delay followed complaints from multiple political parties about irregularities and procedural concerns in the elections in the semi-autonomous region, which is home to some of the world's highest peaks and serves as a key trade gateway between Pakistan and China.
Coalition Talks and Regional Context
The PML-N, which currently leads the federal government in Islamabad, has been in talks with the PPP to form a coalition government in the northern region. Gilgit-Baltistan lies in the Himalayan region of Kashmir, a territory disputed between India and Pakistan. India claims the right to govern all of Jammu and Kashmir, while Pakistan rejects these claims, accusing India of forceful occupation since 1947. Pakistan also asserts its claim to all parts of Kashmir administered by India since the end of British rule in 1947.
