Nawaz arrives in GB to meet PML-N ticket holders ahead of elections

Former Prime Minister and PML-N President Nawaz Sharif arrived in Gilgit-Baltistan for a brief visit as the party prepares for the upcoming general elections scheduled for June 7. The elections in the region faced a four-month delay attributed to severe winter weather.

Sharif's one-day visit to Gilgit included meetings with party ticket holders who are contesting the polls. He was accompanied by several key party figures, including Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, and Inter-Provincial Coordination Minister Rana Sanaullah. They were welcomed upon arrival by Minister for Kashmir Affairs and GB Amir Muqam and other party members.

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Till how long will the issue (GB’s constitutional status) remain undecided? Kashmir was an important issue, but so was the future of the people of GB.

The Election Commission of Gilgit-Baltistan issued a no-objection certificate, allowing Sharif to visit and lead his party's campaign. Although Sharif makes rare public appearances since being elected as an MNA in February 2024, he remains the PML-N's chief decision-maker and a political mentor to his daughter, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.

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The time has come for the parliament to debate the matter.

Earlier on Tuesday, senior PML-N leader Khawaja Saad Rafique addressed a gathering in Skardu, emphasizing the urgent need for a "comprehensive plan" to resolve Gilgit-Baltistan's constitutional status. He questioned the prolonged indecision on the matter, stating that while Kashmir is an important issue, the future of GB's people is equally significant. Rafique stressed that it is time for parliamentary debate and a collective responsibility of all parties and institutions to advance the region.

Rafique also advocated for an equitable share for Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir in the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award. He indicated that Nawaz Sharif would announce the party's "charter" during his visit. Acknowledging the region's developmental challenges, Rafique stated that while no government can solve everything in five years, a clear future direction can be set. He credited the PML-N with laying that foundation during their previous tenure and urged voters to consider which party had done the most work for the region. Rafique outlined potential projects, including quadrupling air traffic, constructing dams, and implementing small viable projects to address electricity issues.

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no government will be able to solve everything in five years. However, a direction for the future could be determined.