Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), urged voters in Gilgit-Baltistan to grant his party a strong electoral majority.
The call for a decisive mandate is intended to ensure the protection of the region's rights and the fulfillment of party promises. A strong majority would allow the PPP to fast-track critical infrastructure and governance goals in the territory.
Speaking at an election rally in Chilas Tehsil, located in the Diamer district, Bhutto-Zardari said political strength is necessary to secure local interests [1, 2]. He specifically highlighted the Diamer-Bhasha dam project, urging the prime minister to apply "Shehbaz speed" to complete the construction [2].
The PPP Chairman addressed the loss of political ground in previous cycles. He said that nine seats were taken away from the PPP during the previous elections [2]. He framed the current campaign as a necessary step to reclaim that influence and provide stability to the region.
The rally took place on June 4, 2026 [1]. While some reports identified the event as occurring on a Thursday, other accounts referenced it as Wednesday [1, 2]. Despite the discrepancy in the day of the week, the focus remained on the strategic importance of the Diamer district for the party's broader goals.
Bhutto-Zardari said a strong mandate is the only way to ensure that the promises made to the people of Gilgit-Baltistan are kept. By securing a majority, he said the party could better advocate for the region's specific legal, and economic needs on a national level [1].
“PPP needs majority to secure GB rights”
The PPP's push for a majority in Gilgit-Baltistan reflects a strategy to consolidate power in a strategically sensitive border region. By linking political mandates to tangible infrastructure like the Diamer-Bhasha dam, the party is attempting to pivot from ideological promises to delivery-based governance to regain seats lost in previous election cycles.
