KARACHI: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) on Saturday announced that it would field candidates on all 24 seats of the Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly in the upcoming elections set for June 7.

The announcement was made by senior MQM-P leader Dr Farooq Sattar at a press conference here at the temporary headquarters of the party in Bahadurabad.

Dr Sattar also announced the merger of the Baltistan Students Federation (BSF) with the All Pakistan Muttahida Students Organisation (APMSO), the student wing of the MQM-P.

Terming it a historic step, he said that the move would pave the way for dismantling dynastic politics in the region.

Sattar says ‘oppressive’ taxation on region’s natural wealth unacceptable; demands abolition of petroleum levy

He said the MQM-P would contest all seats of the GB Legislative Assembly and that its candidates would be under 35 years of age.

“April 20 is set as the last date for submission of nomination papers,” he added.

Outlining MQM-P’s vision for GB, Dr Sattar said the establishment of medical and engineering universities, modern infrastructure and hydropower projects to end the region’s power crisis were among their top priorities.

He said that no new taxes on minerals and mining resources would be accepted, calling the “oppressive” taxation on the region’s natural wealth unacceptable.

Dr Sattar demanded the immediate abolition of the Rs640 billion annual petroleum levy to provide direct relief to the public.

He praised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir for their efforts to restore peace.

The MQM-P leader also criticised the Pakistan Peoples Party’s Sindh government, and said that 18 years of so-called democracy in the province had produced only corruption and injustice.

Also present on the occasion were BSF president Ahtisham, parliamentarians and members of APMSO’s central cabinet.

Published in Dawn, April 19th, 2026