GB's rights should be protected under any new constitutional amendment, says Bilawal at election rally

Coverage Overview

With general elections in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) scheduled for June 7, political leaders have been rallying across the region, with Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Nawaz Sharif both addressing public gatherings. Reports from Dawn (which provided the most extensive coverage across multiple articles) indicate that Bilawal has used the campaign trail to press for greater constitutional rights for the region, while Nawaz has focused on development grievances.

Key Claims

• Elections on June 7: Several reports confirm that GB general elections will be held on June 7, after a four-month delay attributed to harsh winter weather.
• Bilawal's call for constitutional protection: In a rally in Shigar, Bilawal said that "if any constitutional amendment has to be made anywhere, it is very important that the rights of GB are protected under it." This statement was reported by multiple Dawn articles.
• Simultaneous elections demand: Bilawal also urged that elections in GB be held at the same time as general elections in Pakistan, arguing this would further the region's struggle for self-governance (haq-i-hakimiyat). This position appears in multiple reports.
• Questioning the federal ministry: Bilawal questioned the need for the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and GB, suggesting it should be abolished and that political, financial, and administrative authority should be transferred to local assemblies. This was reported in multiple articles.
• Ownership rights promise: At a Gilgit rally, Bilawal promised to ensure ownership rights and protections of the 18th Constitutional Amendment for GB, citing legislation that converted 28,000 square miles of government land into common land. This claim was carried by a single Dawn report.
• Nawaz's development lament: Nawaz Sharif lamented the lack of development in the region, as reported by one Dawn article.

Perspectives

Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari / PPP

Bilawal framed the election as a struggle for GB's rights, including governance, ownership, and employment. He argued that the PPP was the only party capable of safeguarding these rights, warning that other parties would reverse progress. He also connected the campaign to regional geopolitical issues, condemning recent Israeli attacks on Iran.

Nawaz Sharif / PML-N

Nawaz focused on the region's underdevelopment, attributing the lack of progress to previous governments. His remarks suggest a development-centric approach to winning voter support.

Gilgit-Baltistan's Constitutional Status

Gilgit-Baltistan operates under a special administrative status that falls short of full provincial rights. Bilawal's demands for constitutional protections and simultaneous elections highlight ongoing grievances about the region's governance being controlled from Islamabad.

Temporal Context

Reports indicate that both leaders addressed rallies on different days, with Bilawal speaking in Shigar on Monday and in Gilgit on Friday, while Nawaz spoke on Tuesday. The exact sequencing comes from the dates provided in the reports, though the election date of June 7 remains consistent across all accounts.