Shigar rally focuses on elections, governance rights and historical legacy

SHIGAR (Gilgit-Baltistan) — Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that electoral processes in Gilgit-Baltistan must be transparent, urging supporters to ensure accountability at the polling station level while asserting confidence in his party’s organisational strength.

Speaking at a public rally in Shigar, Bilawal said voters should take responsibility for safeguarding results through polling documentation, while indicating confidence in managing political outcomes.

“Arrange your Form 45, I will manage Form 47,” he remarked, in a statement that drew attention during the campaign event.

PPP banking on historical narrative

The PPP chairman said his party has deep roots in Gilgit-Baltistan, recalling the legacy of former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and former premier Benazir Bhutto.

He said Bhutto introduced welfare-oriented policies in the region, including subsidies on wheat and fuel, which he described as part of a long-standing pro-poor agenda.

“If Pakistan has a nuclear capability, it is because of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto,” he added, linking national strategic development with his party’s historical leadership.

Attack on political opponents and election fairness

Bilawal alleged that PPP had faced electoral manipulation in past elections but expressed optimism that such issues would not recur this time.

He urged voters to turn out in large numbers on polling day and ensure they obtain official polling slips as proof of their vote.

The PPP chairman said fair elections were essential for political stability and representation in Gilgit-Baltistan’s development process.

Call for greater regional autonomy

Reiterating his party’s stance on governance, Bilawal said decision-making authority should rest with locally elected representatives rather than central institutions in Islamabad.

He argued that political and administrative powers should be devolved to enable faster development and better resource management in the region.

Natural resources and ownership debate

Bilawal also raised the issue of resource ownership, stating that natural wealth, including land and mountains, belongs to local communities.

He said PPP supports giving local populations greater control over regional resources, citing development models such as public-private partnerships in Sindh’s Thar coal project.

Youth employment and economic focus

The PPP chairman said creating employment opportunities for young people in Gilgit-Baltistan remains a key priority, linking economic development with political representation.

He said past PPP governments had facilitated overseas employment opportunities for Pakistanis, contributing to foreign remittances and national income.

Election message and campaign push

Bilawal urged supporters to back PPP candidates, arguing that effective representation would ensure better access to development funds and infrastructure projects.

He concluded by reiterating that his party’s philosophy remains centred on welfare slogans such as “roti, kapra aur makaan,” framing PPP as a defender of working-class interests in the region.