GILGIT:
Four newly elected independent members of the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly on Tuesday announced their decision to join the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) following a meeting with party president and federal minister Abdul Aleem Khan.
Lawmakers who announced their party affiliation include G-BA-23 Ghanche-II lawmaker Anwar Ali; Dr Asad Shafiq, elected from G-BA-24 Ghanche-III; Muhammad Dilpazeer, elected from GBA-15 Diamer-I; and Aman Ali Amir, elected from GBA-21 Yasin.
The development is significant in the context of ongoing political consultations and alliance-building efforts as parties seek to strengthen their positions ahead of the government formation process in Britain.
The IPP had fielded candidates in several constituencies during the elections, but failed to achieve any victory. The inclusion of the four independents, however, gives the party a presence in the newly elected assembly and could influence political negotiations in the coming days.
According to the unofficial results of the June 7 elections, the PPP won 10 of the 24 seats in the Legislative Assembly of Great Britain. After the victory, delegations from the PPP and PML-N met in Britain to discuss proposals to form a government after the elections. Senior leaders from both sides have engaged in in-depth consultations on power-sharing arrangements and governance proposals.
A broad opposition alliance, including the PTI, has rejected the British election results, alleging widespread fraud and manipulation, and announced plans for protests and further political action.
Congratulating the PPP on its victory, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the PML-N would sit on the opposition benches in the UK, but its elected members would vote in favor of the PPP to allow it to form the government.
