Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that decisions regarding Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir should be made by local people instead of “a babu sitting in Islamabad,” while addressing a public rally in Shigar.
His remarks came during an election gathering in Constituency GBA-12, where he outlined his party’s political agenda and governance stance for the region.
‘Decisions should be made by the people’
Bilawal Bhutto emphasized that governance and decision-making powers for Gilgit-Baltistan should not remain centralized in Islamabad.
He said the people of Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir should have the authority to decide their own future, arguing that central control undermines local representation.
He added that the PPP has consistently supported marginalized regions and advocated for their rights within the federation.
Call for simultaneous elections
The PPP chairman also reiterated his demand that elections in Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir should be held alongside Pakistan’s general elections.
He said holding elections simultaneously would strengthen democratic representation and ensure greater political transparency in the region.
Allegations and electoral claims
During his address, Bilawal Bhutto urged voters to safeguard Form 45 during elections, saying it was crucial for ensuring transparency in the electoral process.
He also claimed that in previous elections, PPP seats had been “taken away,” and expressed confidence that his party would secure victory in Shigar this time.
Development claims and party achievements
Highlighting his party’s governance record, Bilawal Bhutto said the Sindh government had constructed two million houses for low-income families.
He also said the PPP has historically represented underprivileged communities and supported development initiatives across remote regions, including Gilgit-Baltistan.
The PPP chairman said people in Shigar should have ownership rights over local minerals and natural resources.
He argued that development in Gilgit-Baltistan would contribute to national progress, stating that “if Gilgit-Baltistan develops, Islamabad will also develop.”
He also called for greater constitutional rights for the region under the framework of the 18th Amendment.
Bilawal Bhutto further said that the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs should be abolished and administrative authority transferred to the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly.
He said such reforms would help ensure greater autonomy and local governance in the region.
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