Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), urged voters in Gilgit-Baltistan to support his party in upcoming elections.
The appeal comes as the PPP seeks a parliamentary majority to implement socio-economic protections and safeguard the constitutional rights of residents in the region.
During campaign rallies held on Thursday, June 5, and Friday, June 6, 2026, Bhutto-Zardari focused on the necessity of a strong public mandate. He said, "I urge the people of Gilgit-Baltistan to give us a heavy mandate so that we can protect your rights" [1].
Central to the party's platform is the guarantee of land ownership and employment security. Bhutto-Zardari said the party would ensure these protections under the 18th [2] Constitutional Amendment.
"We will ensure your right to land ownership and job protections under the 18th Constitutional Amendment," Bhutto-Zardari said [2].
The PPP campaign emphasizes the "arrow" symbol as the mark for voters to identify the party on the ballot. By securing a majority, the party intends to create a legal and political framework that prevents the erosion of local rights in Gilgit-Baltistan.
These promises target long-standing regional concerns regarding autonomy and the legal status of land and labor. The party's strategy relies on linking these local protections to the broader constitutional framework of the country.
“"I urge the people of Gilgit-Baltistan to give us a heavy mandate so that we can protect your rights."”
The PPP's focus on the 18th Amendment in Gilgit-Baltistan represents an attempt to integrate the region's governance more closely with the constitutional standards of Pakistan. By promising specific protections for land and jobs, the party is addressing the region's historical anxieties over autonomy and resource control, positioning itself as the primary defender of local rights against potential central encroachment.
