GILGIT: Pakistan Peoples Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Wednesday announced that his party would protect the constitutional rights of Gilgit-Baltistan region.

He urged the local residents to vote his party to power to fulfil promises.

Mr Bilawal reached Skardu city to lead the party’s 22 days long election campaign in all 10 districts of Gilgit-Baltistan.

Accompanied by PPP leaders Qamar Zaman Kaira, Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, Jamil Soomro and Nasir Shah, he was received by PPP Gilgit-Baltistan president Amjad Hussain, former chief minister Syed Mehdi Shah and leader Mohammad Ali Akhtar at the Skardu airport.

The PPP activists, who showed up in large numbers, carried party flags and shouted slogans for the party and Mr Bilawal, who said he had come to the region to support their struggle for constitutional rights and fulfil the promises made by the party’s founder, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, and former premier Benazir Bhutto.

Reaches region to lead party’s poll campaign

“Your support is needed to fulfil my promise of making GB the constitutional province of Pakistan,” he said.Mr Bilawal said if his party formed the next government in the region, the people’s rights would be protected.

“Only the PPP will ensure the protection of the rights of GB and therefore, you [people] should support it,” he said.

The PPP chairman said the party’s mission was to empower the poor people, labours and farmers.Later, Mr Bilawal led a rally to Ghanche district.

The party flags and welcoming banners were put up on the streets and along the route, while the motorcade was showered with rose petals at various points.

The PPP chairman was also offered dry fruit.

After reaching Ghanche district, he went to the house of PPP Gilgit-Baltistan secretary general Engineer Mohammad Ismail to condole the death of his brother.

During his stay in Gilgit-Baltistan until Nov 12, Mr Bilawal will campaign for the party’s candidates in all 10 districts by addressing rallies, corner meetings and news conference.

Published in Dawn, October 22nd, 2020