Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), called for greater local empowerment during a speech in Gilgit-Baltistan on June 1, 2026 [1].
The demand for autonomy in the region highlights a push to shift decision-making power from the federal government to local residents. This move is central to the PPP's strategy to secure a governing mandate in the territory.
During the address, Bhutto Zardari said, "Decisions affecting Gilgit‑Baltistan should be made by its people, not by the federal government" [1]. He pledged that his party would secure the right of ownership, and the protections of the 18th Constitutional Amendment, for the people of the region [3].
The speech was part of an intensified campaign effort that continued through June 2, 2026 [2]. While reports vary on the exact location of the event, citing both Gilgit city and Skardu, the rally served as a platform to emphasize regional rights [1, 2].
Following the electoral process, unofficial results indicated that the PPP won 11 seats [2]. This performance positioned the party to lead the regional administration.
Bhutto Zardari said, "I welcome Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s support for a PPP‑led government in Gilgit‑Baltistan" [2]. The alignment between the federal leadership and the regional party suggests a coordinated approach to managing the territory's governance.
The PPP Chairman emphasized that the 18th Amendment provides a framework for the devolution of power, which he intends to apply to ensure the region's residents have a direct say in their own administration [3].
“Decisions affecting Gilgit‑Baltistan should be made by its people, not by the federal government.”
The push for the 18th Amendment's protections in Gilgit-Baltistan represents an attempt to integrate the region more formally into Pakistan's constitutional framework. By advocating for local empowerment and ownership rights, the PPP is attempting to address long-standing grievances regarding administrative autonomy and federal overreach in the territory.
