Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari Calls for Strong Mandate in Gilgit-Baltistan to Protect Regional Rights

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari addressed a rally in Ghizer on Thursday, urging voters in Gilgit-Baltistan to grant his party a decisive mandate to ensure the protection of the region’s rights.

The speech was part of a series of campaign events across Gilgit-Baltistan as the PPP and other political entities intensify their efforts to secure public support ahead of the upcoming elections.

Reflecting on the previous elections where the PPP secured nine seats, Bilawal alleged that other seats had been unfairly taken. He expressed confidence in the current election cycle, asserting that “no one can steal seats from you” and predicting a clean sweep of all three seats in Ghizer for the PPP.

He emphasized that the party seeks a substantial majority in Gilgit-Baltistan not for personal gain, but to empower the people and fulfill the legacy of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto within the region.

Bilawal highlighted the historical contributions of his predecessors, noting Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s subsidies and Benazir Bhutto’s role in granting Ghizer district status. He further credited President Asif Ali Zardari with securing the Assembly, identity, governor, and chief minister positions for Gilgit-Baltistan, stating, “now it is my turn and yours.”

He asserted that the new generation holds the responsibility to secure further rights for the region. Bilawal stated that a strong mandate would enable him to demand that the federal government prioritize the will of the Gilgit-Baltistan people in all constitutional deliberations.

The PPP Chairman specifically noted that a majority, including all three Ghizer seats, is essential to upholding the promised right to sovereignty.

He pointed out that 28,000 square kilometers of land in Gilgit-Baltistan was previously state-owned, but through the efforts of the PPP and its Assembly members, legislation was passed to designate it as common land for the people.

Defending the party’s integrity, he remarked, “For three generations, we have had a record of being true to our word; when we make promises, we deliver on them.”

Bilawal warned that failing to secure a government or specific seats in Ghizer, Baltistan, Gilgit, or the Diamer division would jeopardize the implementation of recent legislation. He suggested that opposing parties, such as the PML-N, might disregard these legislative gains if the PPP is not in power.

A major pillar of his campaign is land ownership, with the PPP pledging to grant ownership of arable land to local residents.

He cited the Sindh People’s Housing for Flood-Affectees (SPHF) program as a successful model, where two million houses were built for flood victims with full land and home ownership. He described this initiative as the most significant land transfer in Pakistan’s history since the reforms of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, noting it also generated one million jobs in Sindh.

Bilawal expressed his intention to launch a similar housing scheme in Gilgit-Baltistan, beginning in Ghizer, to assist those impacted by natural disasters and flooding.

Beyond sovereignty and land rights, the Chairman reaffirmed the party’s commitment to providing employment. He contrasted the PPP’s focus on job creation—across the public, private, and technical sectors—with other parties, whom he accused of contributing to unemployment.

“After the PPP government left, no provincial government in GB has provided jobs—they have stolen them,” he claimed, defining this as the “foundational difference” between the PPP and its rivals.

He pledged that an elected PPP government would aggressively pursue job opportunities for the youth in both the government and private sectors.

To ensure transparency and meritocracy, Bilawal announced his intention to utilize artificial intelligence (AI) to assist in the examination and selection process for new hires, aiming to eliminate personal bias.

Source link