ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Wednesday thanked the people of Gilgit-Baltistan for giving his party the mandate and appreciated both political allies and opponents for supporting the democratic process in the region.
Speaking to journalists after addressing the National Assembly, Bilawal said the PPP was grateful to the people of Gilgit-Baltistan for their trust and support. He thanked Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz for promptly accepting the PPP’s electoral mandate. “The PMLN voted for our chief minister, supported our speaker and also accepted the office of deputy speaker,” he said.
Bilawal acknowledged the support extended by the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP), Majlis Wahdatul Muslimeen (MWM) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-backed candidates, saying that all stakeholders had respected PPP’s mandate. He noted that for the first time in Gilgit-Baltistan’s history, PPP leader Amjad Hussain had been elected chief minister unopposed. “We will work together with all political forces to address the challenges facing Gilgit-Baltistan,” he added.
Responding to a question about Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s visit to Pakistan, he said peace and regional stability remained priorities for both the government and the PPP. He hoped that successful diplomatic efforts would help ease the economic pressures currently being borne by ordinary Pakistanis. He said Pakistan-Iran relations were strong before the recent regional tensions and would become even stronger in the future. He reiterated his support for the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project, originally initiated during the presidency of Asif Ali Zardari.
Commenting on the situation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), he said all political parties, Pakistanis and Kashmiris were concerned about the current developments. He stressed that the PPP wanted all disputes and grievances to be resolved through political dialogue and democratic mechanisms. “Pakistan Peoples Party has never advocated delaying elections,” he said, noting that his party was in a strong electoral position and had no interest in postponing the polls.
Asked about Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav, Bilawal said he was unaware of details regarding his passport but maintained that Jadhav’s presence in Pakistan and his objectives were well known. He alleged that efforts against Pakistan were part of a broader conspiracy involving hostile forces and claimed that there was coordination between India and Israel aimed at undermining Pakistan’s interests. “Kulbhushan Jadhav did not come to Pakistan for tourism; he came to support terrorist networks,” he said.
Referring to recent regional tensions, he alleged that separatist elements had openly supported military actions against Iran which, he argued, exposed their alignment with anti-Pakistan agendas. The PPP chairman said Pakistan’s diplomatic initiatives and efforts of the country’s leadership, including Field Marshal Asim Munir, would help defeat any conspiracy against the country. “Whatever designs are being pursued against Pakistan will fail, and all conspiracies aimed at destabilising the country will be defeated,” he added.
