Bilawal Urges Constitutional Safeguards for GB Rights Ahead of Polls

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has called for the rights of Gilgit-Baltistan to be protected in any future constitutional amendment, placing the region’s political status at the centre of his party’s election campaign. He made the remarks on Monday while addressing a public gathering in Shigar ahead of the June 7 elections in GB.

Bilawal said that constitutional reform should not ignore the people of Gilgit-Baltistan and argued that any amendment must strengthen their political, administrative and economic rights. His speech focused on the region’s long-running demand for greater authority over its own affairs and a stronger constitutional position within Pakistan’s governance framework.

The PPP chairman also called for Gilgit-Baltistan elections to be held at the same time as general elections across Pakistan. He presented simultaneous elections as an important step toward giving the region a more equal political voice and reducing the sense that GB’s future is decided separately from the rest of the country.

In his address, Bilawal said the people of Gilgit-Baltistan should have the right to rule and make decisions for their own region. He criticised what he described as the tendency of some political forces to run regional affairs from Islamabad, saying local people must be empowered to decide how their land, resources and institutions are managed.

He also questioned the continued role of the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan, arguing that political, financial and administrative powers should be transferred to the elected assemblies in Gilgit and Muzaffarabad. His remarks signalled that the PPP intends to frame the GB election around devolution, ownership and regional self-governance.

Bilawal linked political rights with economic opportunity, saying that local control over resources could create employment for young people in GB and help the region contribute more strongly to Pakistan’s wider economy. He suggested that when people have ownership over their mountains, minerals and land, development becomes more inclusive and locally beneficial.

Gilgit-Baltistan has remained a sensitive constitutional and political question for decades. Although the region is strategically important because of its geography, tourism potential, water resources and connection to China through the Karakoram Highway, its residents have repeatedly demanded stronger representation, clearer rights and a more empowered local setup.

The PPP has historically tried to position itself as a party that supports provincial autonomy and constitutional reforms. Bilawal’s latest speech appears aimed at mobilising voters in GB by promising a rights-based political agenda rather than limiting the campaign to routine development pledges.

For Pakistan, the debate carries national importance because Gilgit-Baltistan’s political status affects governance, federal relations, regional development and public trust in constitutional institutions. If the issue gains momentum during the election campaign, other parties may also come under pressure to clarify their position on GB’s representation and resource ownership.

The coming days are likely to see sharper political messaging as parties make their final appeal before polling. Bilawal’s remarks have placed constitutional protections, election timing and regional autonomy among the central themes of the GB campaign, making the issue one of the most closely watched political developments of the day.