The government and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) are embroiled in a dispute over alleged limitations on political campaigning as the Gilgit-Baltistan elections approach. The ruling coalition denies accusations of bias, while the opposition claims efforts are underway to marginalize its supporters.
Political activity in Gilgit-Baltistan intensified with the elections for 24 Assembly seats scheduled for June 7. Senior leaders from major parties arrived in the region on Tuesday to rally support. Notably, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Nawaz Sharif made a brief visit to Gilgit, and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Aseefa Bhutto Zardari addressed an election rally in Skardu’s GBA-7 constituency.
In a significant development, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah dismissed PTI’s claims during a televised interview, emphasizing that Nawaz Sharif had traveled to Gilgit-Baltistan after securing the necessary no-objection certificate (NOC) from election authorities. He stressed that no federal ministers had campaigned in the area and denied any official interference in the electoral process.
Rana Sanaullah highlighted that PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan was conducting public meetings freely and argued that other PTI leaders could also campaign if they followed the legal procedures. He remarked, “If Barrister Gohar can travel there after obtaining permission, then Salman Akram Raja should do the same.” Furthermore, he pointed out that PTI does not have any candidate directly contesting the elections and assured that the upcoming polls would be free, fair, and credible.
In response, PTI leader Shafi Jan accused the government of allowing all political parties except PTI to campaign freely in Gilgit-Baltistan. He noted that both Nawaz Sharif and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari were actively campaigning and questioned why the Election Commission had not acted against them if a PTI minister had done the same. “The Election Commission’s silence is difficult to understand,” he added.
Jan also criticized the cancellation of PTI’s alliance with the Gilgit-Baltistan Democratic Movement, claiming that candidates linked to PTI were forced to run as independents. He challenged the alleged restrictions on PTI activists, stating that if the party had truly lost public support, there would be no justification for preventing its members from campaigning.
Warning against attempts to influence the election outcome, Jan alleged preparations for “another Form 47 operation” were underway and vowed that PTI would oppose any manipulation of the electoral process.
