Bilawal welcomes PM’s invitation to form UK government, calls recognition of PPP mandate ‘democratic’
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif hosted a dinner in honor of a high-level diplomatic delegation led by PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in Islamabad on Tuesday. Photo: PID
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday invited the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) to form the government in Gilgit-Baltistan, saying the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) would support its coalition partner while choosing to sit on the opposition benches in the regional assembly.
The move comes after unofficial results from Sunday’s British election showed the PPP leading in 11 of the 24 contested seats. The PML-N was leading in five constituencies, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) in three, its ally Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen (MWM) in one, while independent candidates were ahead in two constituencies.
According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, Prime Minister Shehbaz said that the PML-N would support the PPP in the government formation process.
Read: PPP, PML-N leaders meet in Gilgit to discuss formation of UK government
“The Pakistan People’s Party has become the majority party in Gilgit-Baltistan, and we invite it to form the government there,” he said.
The prime minister said the PML-N had decided to sit in opposition in the British Assembly, but its elected members would vote in favor of the PPP to allow it to form the government.
“We have taken this decision in accordance with democratic traditions and values. The PML-N has always maintained a relationship of mutual respect with its allied parties,” he said.
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari welcomed the Prime Minister’s statement and thanked him for inviting the party to form the next administration in the region.
“The recognition of the majority of the Pakistan People’s Party in Gilgit-Baltistan is a continuation of a democratic tradition. We consider the Prime Minister’s invitation to form the government as a positive step,” Bilawal said in a statement.
He said it was agreed by consensus that the offices of governor and vice president in Britain would be held by the PML-N.
“Pakistan People’s Party will use all its capabilities to serve the people of Gilgit-Baltistan,” he said.
Bilawal also thanked the people of the region for making PPP the largest political party in the region.
“By reposing their trust in us and making us the largest political party in Gilgit-Baltistan, the people have entrusted us with the responsibility of ensuring protection of their property rights, labor rights and constitutional rights,” he said, adding that the party will discharge this responsibility in the best possible manner.
Read also: Opposition rejects UK election results
A day before the announcement, senior leaders of the PPP and PML-N met in Gilgit to discuss various proposals for the formation of the next government in Britain after the June 7 elections, according to a statement issued by the PML-N on Thursday.
With the formation of a coalition expected to determine the shape of the next administration, leaders from both parties exchanged views on different government formation options and agreed to continue consultations.
The delegations also agreed that the proposals discussed at the meeting would be presented to their respective leaders in the Board of Directors and at the central level before a final decision was made.
At the same time, the election results were contested by several political parties.
The PTI rejected the result, alleging irregularities and manipulation in a number of constituencies, while the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl raised concerns over the alleged non-issuance of Form 45 in real time during vote counting.
Questions have also been raised by various stakeholders over delays in announcing results, leaving some aspects of the electoral process controversial even as coalition negotiations continue.
