PML-N unveils candidates for 19 G-B seats
With a month remaining before elections in Gilgit-Baltistan, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has unveiled its list of ticket holders for 19 out of 24 seats, intensifying the electoral contest with coalition ally Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), which had announced its candidates and reserved-seat priorities earlier this week.
According to a notification issued by the party and undersigned by PML-N President Nawaz Sharif, tickets were awarded to several key party figures, including former Gilgit-Baltistan chief minister and PML-N G-B president Hafeezur Rehman from GBA-2, Gilgit-II.
The announcement comes two days after the PPP released its complete slate for general and reserved seats, setting the stage for a high-stakes contest between the two ruling coalition partners in the federally administered territory.
Under the PML-N list, party tickets were awarded to Muhammad Shafiqud Din from GBA-1, Gilgit-I; Muhammad Ibrahim from GBA-22, Ghanche-I; Ghullam Muhammad from GBA-21, Ghizer-III; Abdul Jahan from GBA-20, Ghizer-II; Malik Kifayat from GBA-18, Diamer-IV; Muhammad Zaman from GBA-17, Diamer-III; Engineer Muhammad Anwar from GBA-16, Diamer-II; Abdul Wajid from GBA-15, Diamer-I; Rana Muhammad Farooq from GBA-14, Astore-II; Farman Ali from GBA-13, Astore-I; Muhammad Tahir Unahar Shigri from GBA-12, Shigar; Syed Mohsin Rizvi from GBA-11, Kharmang; Ajmal Hussain from GBA-9, Skardu-III; Imtiaz Haider Khan from GBA-8, Skardu-II; Muhammad Akbar Khan from GBA-7, Skardu-I; Prince Saleem from GBA-6, Hunza; and Mohammad Iqbal from GBA-3, Gilgit-III. Party candidates from Gilgit-Baltistan were interviewed by Nawaz Sharif around two weeks ago following initial scrutiny by the parliamentary board.
On April 16, PML-N constituted a 23-member parliamentary board comprising Nawaz Sharif, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, former Punjab chief minister Hamza Shehbaz, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, Captain Safdar and other senior leaders.
Earlier this week, PPP also issued tickets to its candidates, including Amjad Hussain Azar from GBLA-1 (Gilgit-I), Jameel Ahmed from GBLA-2 (Gilgit-II), Aftab Haider from GBLA-3 (Gilgit-III), Muhammad Ali Akhtar from GBLA-4 (Nagar-I), Zulfiqar Ali Murad from GBLA-5 (Nagar-II), Col (R) Imtiaz-ul-Haq from GBLA-6 (Hunza), Touqeer Mehdi Shah from GBLA-7 (Skardu-I), Syed Muhammad Ali Shah from GBLA-8 (Skardu-II), Fida Muhammad Nishad from GBLA-9 (Skardu-III), Raja Nasir Ali Khan from GBLA-10 (Skardu-IV), Iqbal Hassan from GBLA-11 (Kharmang), Imran Nadeem from GBLA-12 (Shigar), Major (R) Fahad Hanif Khan from GBLA-13 (Astore-I), Bashir Ahmed Khan from GBLA-15 (Diamer-I), Ataullah Shah from GBLA-16 (Diamer-II), Muhammad Naseem from GBLA-17 (Diamer-III), Pir Syed Jalal Ali Shah from GBLA-19 (Ghizer-I), Nazir Ahmed from GBLA-20 (Ghizer-II), Muhammad Ayub Shah from GBLA-21 (Ghizer-III), Dr Ashiq Hussain from GBLA-22 (Ghanche-I), and Engineer Muhammad Ismail from GBLA-24 (Ghanche-III). A day later, the Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) announced additional candidates for the Gilgit-Baltistan elections, awarding party tickets to Wazir Waqar for GBA-9 Skardu-III and Amna Ansari for GBA-23 Ghanche-II.
The party also issued a priority list for women's reserved seats and technocrat seats.
It is pertinent to mention here that while PML-N enjoys an obvious advantage as the principal ruling party at the Centre, the PPP, despite being a junior coalition partner federally, remains a formidable contender in Gilgit-Baltistan owing to its longstanding roots in the region.
According to PPP insiders, the party has also been working towards a possible alliance with JUI-F in Gilgit-Baltistan to improve its chances of securing the maximum number of seats.
The upcoming elections in both Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir are being closely watched by political observers, as they are expected to offer important signals regarding the evolving balance of power and the direction of establishment-backed political currents.