GILGIT: The PPP on Saturday announced that it would form the government in Gilgit-Baltistan with the support of the PML-N, similar to the arrangement between the two parties at the Centre.
The decision was announced by PPP GB President Amjad Hussain and PML-N GB President Hafeezur Rehman at a press conference following consultations between the two sides.
In addition, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has decided to appoint Amjad Hussain Advocate as the GB chief minister.
According to a press release issued on Saturday night, the PPP and the PML-N, based on mutual trust, consensus and consultation, have decided to form the GB government through a political partnership.
It added that both parties had expressed their determination to move forward together, prioritising political stability, public welfare and the promotion of democratic values.
Power-sharing formula
According to a statement issued after the meeting between the local leadership of the two parties, both sides agreed on a power-sharing formula.
Under the arrangement, the chief minister of Gilgit-Baltistan will belong to the PPP.
The PML-N, meanwhile, will get the post of governor.
The office of leader of the opposition in the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly will also go to the PML-N.
The post of deputy speaker of the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly will likewise be allotted to the PML-N. “The public mandate formula agreed upon between the two parties is a manifestation of mutual consultation and political harmony,” the statement said.
The PPP delegation included the party’s Central General Secretary Nayyar Hussain Bukhari, GB President Amjad Hussain Advocate, former federal information minister Qamar Zaman Kaira and Imran Nadeem.
The PML-N side was represented by its GB President Hafeezur Rehman, Ibrahim Sanai, Malik Kefayat, Sahab Khan, Rana Farooq and other parliamentary members.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, Mr Rehman said the agreement had been reached after several rounds of talks.
He added that the decision of the PML-N central leadership to support the PPP in forming the government had been endorsed by the party’s local leadership.
He announced that the PML-N would sit on the opposition benches in the GB Assembly.
He said that following the pattern adopted at the federal level, the positions of governor, deputy speaker and opposition leader would go to the PML-N.
Speaking on the occasion, PPP GB president Hussain thanked Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the PML-N leadership for supporting the PPP in electing its chief minister and speaker at the request of the party chairman.
He said any decision regarding the inclusion of the Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party (IPP) in the government would be taken by the PPP chairman.
Published in Dawn, June 21st, 2026
