PML-N and PPP ramp up Gilgit-Baltistan election campaign ahead of June 7 vote

Senior leaders of Pakistan's two main parties stepped up their Gilgit-Baltistan election campaigns on Tuesday, holding separate rallies across the mountainous region.

PML-N president Nawaz Sharif addressed a public meeting in Gilgit, while PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari rallied supporters in Skardu.

Both leaders pledged development, greater rights, and economic relief ahead of the June 7 vote.

Why were the Gilgit-Baltistan elections delayed?

The Gilgit-Baltistan legislative elections were postponed by four months due to harsh winter conditions in the region. Voting is now scheduled for June 7.

The delay pushed campaigning into late spring, with both PML-N and PPP intensifying their outreach in the final days before polling.

What did Nawaz Sharif say at his Gilgit rally?

Sharif opened his one-day visit by criticizing the state of roads, airports, and public services in the region. He said it pained him to see the condition of local infrastructure, questioning why earlier development funds had not been properly used.

Sharif required a special No Objection Certificate from the Election Commission of Gilgit-Baltistan to visit the region and campaign.

He recalled infrastructure projects from previous PML-N tenures, including road networks linking tourist destinations and hydropower facilities, arguing the party had long prioritized connectivity in the north.

He pointed to a road project that reduced travel time between Gilgit and Skardu from nine hours to three as evidence of that focus. Without naming political rivals, he said his party sought support based on delivery rather than criticism.

Sharif also called for expanding Gilgit Airport to handle larger commercial aircraft, saying he would raise the matter with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. He emphasized that development in Gilgit-Baltistan was a right of its people, not a political favor. His visit was accompanied by senior federal party leaders.

What did Bilawal Bhutto Zardari promise voters in Skardu?

Bhutto Zardari, joined by First Lady Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari, addressed a large gathering in Skardu where he renewed calls for greater political autonomy and fair use of local natural resources.

He said the people of Gilgit-Baltistan should receive more control over their resources and a greater share of development benefits. He also reaffirmed PPP's support for expanding constitutional and administrative rights for the region within Pakistan's existing governance framework.

He linked regional development to job creation for young people and backed widening social welfare programs, including the Benazir Income Support Program.

Bilawal pointed to large-scale housing projects in PPP-governed Sindh as evidence of his party's governance priorities. He also referred to what he described as a subdued campaign environment, attributing it to regional and international tensions during the election period.

How significant are the Gilgit-Baltistan elections nationally?

Gilgit-Baltistan sits along Pakistan's northern border with China and holds strategic significance due to its role in major infrastructure corridors. Both PML-N and PPP are treating the regional vote as part of broader national political competition.

Nawaz Sharif, who stepped back from frontline politics after the February 2024 national elections, made Tuesday's rally one of his more prominent public appearances since then.