The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has formed its third provincial government in the country after Sindh and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, with Amjad Hussain taking oath as the Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan. The party now faces the challenge of delivering good governance in the strategically significant northern region.
PPP's Majority and Constitutional Promises
The PPP secured 12 of the 24 general seats in the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly and garnered support from independent candidates to form a majority government. The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) sits on the opposition benches. The party must now implement its manifesto, particularly the pledge to integrate Gilgit-Baltistan as Pakistan's fifth province and secure its financial and legal rights under the 18th Constitutional Amendment.
According to PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the party's three core principles are local ownership, governance and employment; regional development; and political stability. Fulfilling these will be crucial for the new administration.
Challenges Ahead
The outgoing legislature saw two chief executives serve amid persistent bickering and defections. The PPP now governs without the support of the PML-N, which controls federal resources, requiring masterful political maneuvering. Additionally, allies at the Centre have traded allegations of pre-poll rigging and ballot irregularities, and the aggrieved Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) remains watchful.
Despite not being part of the federal cabinet, the PPP won the electorate's trust, a departure from conventional political trends. This presents an opportunity for the party to make a significant impact.
Immediate Priorities
The administration's immediate benchmarks include transitioning from a temporary administrative setup to provisional provincial status, addressing funding shortfalls, energy shortages, and ensuring the swift completion of the Diamer-Bhasha Dam.
