PM Shehbaz congratulates PPP on victory in Gilgit-Baltistan elections

Islamabad: As unofficial results from Gilgit-Baltistan’s general elections continued to emerge, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the region for holding peaceful polls and congratulated the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) for gaining a clear lead in the electoral contest.

Calling the democratic exercise a positive reflection of political maturity, the prime minister lauded voters for their active participation and acknowledged the PPP’s strong performance after the party emerged as the frontrunner in the region based on preliminary, unofficial results.

In an official statement, Prime Minister Shehbaz said the PPP deserved appreciation for securing the highest number of seats in the elections. He also felicitated President Asif Ali Zardari and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari over the party’s electoral performance.

According to unofficial and unconfirmed results received from 19 out of 24 constituencies, the Bilawal Bhutto-led PPP secured nine seats, placing it ahead of all competing political parties in the region.

The prime minister also congratulated successful candidates of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), acknowledging the party’s competitive performance in several constituencies.

He praised the party’s campaign team for its commitment and tireless efforts throughout the election process, saying their dedication deserved recognition.

Underscoring the significance of the electoral exercise, Prime Minister Shehbaz described peaceful and transparent elections as a reflection of a thriving democratic system, adding that active political participation demonstrated the strength and resilience of democratic values in the country.

He further lauded the Election Commission for ensuring what he described as a transparent, impartial and credible electoral process, terming its role in conducting the polls “commendable.”

The premier also appreciated the police and other law enforcement agencies for maintaining peace and stability during the election, stating that their vigilance played a crucial role in ensuring smooth polling across Gilgit-Baltistan.

According to the results received so far, the PPP secured victories in GBA-1, GBA-4, GBA-5, GBA-7, GBA-9, GBA-10, GBA-11, GBA-12 and GBA-19, solidifying its position as the dominant political force in the region.

The PML-N won three seats, emerging victorious in GBA-18, GBA-20 and GBA-22, while Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) secured one seat in GBA-8.

Independent candidates also delivered a notable performance, clinching six constituencies GBA-3, GBA-6, GBA-16, GBA-21, GBA-23 and GBA-24 highlighting the continued influence of non-party contenders in the region’s political landscape.

With final unofficial results still awaited from the remaining constituencies, the evolving electoral picture strongly indicates that the PPP has emerged as the single largest political force in Gilgit-Baltistan.

However, the electoral process has not remained free of controversy. Earlier, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), PPP and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) raised concerns over the transparency of the elections, alleging delays in the announcement of results, irregularities in the issuance of Form-45s, and alleged attempts to manipulate electoral outcomes.