PPP and PML-N alliance likely in Gilgit-Baltistan

Efforts have begun to form a government in Gilgit-Baltistan, where an alliance between the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is expected to take shape, according to local media reports.

Media reports suggest that the arrangement could resemble the cooperation model previously seen under the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM). Under the proposed setup, the chief minister’s position would go to the PPP, while the governorship could be allocated to PML-N.

Reports further indicate that ministerial portfolios in the coalition government may be divided under a 60:40 formula between the two parties.

Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met President Asif Ali Zardari at the Presidency. The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, and political adviser Rana Sanaullah.

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, Sherry Rehman, Naveed Qamar, Saleem Mandviwalla, Azad Kashmir Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwar-ul-Haq’s successor Faisal Rathore, and former Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf also participated in the discussions.

The meeting reportedly focused on matters of national importance, including the Gilgit-Baltistan elections and the situation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Media reports said the government and the PPP reached broad agreement on most budget proposals, and the PPP signaled its support for the passage of the federal budget.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated President Zardari on the PPP’s performance in the Gilgit-Baltistan elections and, according to reports, remarked with a smile that Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had run a better election campaign than his party. President Zardari reportedly responded jokingly, “After all, whose son is he?”

Of the 24 seats in the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly, complete unofficial and provisional results have so far been announced for 21 constituencies, while results from three constituencies are still awaited.

According to the unofficial results, the PPP leads with nine seats. Independent candidates have also performed strongly, winning seven seats. PML-N has secured four seats, while Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) has won one seat.