ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): The Pakistan Peoples’ Party has announced the names of 21 constituency ticket-holders to contest the general elections in Gilgit-Baltistan.
While candidates for three constituencies have not yet been announced, several important names have been overlooked in the selection.
The three constituencies for which the PPP has not announced candidates include GBLA 14 Astore 2, GBLA 18 Diamer 4, and GBLA 23 Khaplu.
According to sources, candidates for GBLA 14 Astore have not been announced due to a large number of aspirants, as Minister Tajwar, Abbas Mousavi, Dr. Muzaffar, and Shamsuddin are candidates from here. The leadership has not been able to decide on one so far.
Similarly, no decision has been made in Khaplu, where former minister Abdul Hameed and other candidates are vying.
In LA 7 Skardu 1, there was the biggest dispute over the ticket, where Governor Syed Mehdi Shah’s son Tauqeer Mehdi, Governor Mehdi Shah’s nephew Basharat Zaheer, and Dr. Sharif were candidates, but the Governor’s son succeeded in getting the ticket.
Basharat Zaheer had also met PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari recently, but the matter could not be resolved. The PPP leadership overlooked former Speaker and Senior Minister Amjad Zaidi from LA 11 Kharmang and issued a ticket to Iqbal Hassan, who joined from the N-League.
Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly
The Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly consists of 33 members, with direct elections held for 24 seats. In addition, there are 6 reserved seats for women and 3 seats for technocrats.
Pakistan Peoples’ Party Parliamentarians has issued ticket to party president Amjad Hussain Advocate from GBLA 1 Gilgit, while Jamil Ahmed has been nominated as a candidate from LA 2 Gilgit and Aftab Haider from LA 3 Gilgit.
Similarly, tickets have been issued to Muhammad Ali Akhtar from LA 4 Nagar 1, Zulfiqar Ali Murad from LA 5 Nagar 2, and Colonel (R) Imtiaz-ul-Haq from LA 6 Hunza.
The Peoples’ Party has nominated Tauqeer Mehdi Shah, son of Governor Syed Mehdi Shah from LA 7 Skardu 1, Syed Muhammad Ali Shah from LA 8 Skardu 2, Fida Muhammad Nashad from LA 9 Skardu 3, and Raja Nasir Ali Khan from LA 10 Skardu 4.
Similarly, Iqbal Hassan has been nominated as a candidate from LA 11 Kharmang, Imran Nadeem from LA 12 Shigar, and Major (R) Fahad Hanif Khan from LA 13 Astore 1.
Bashir Ahmed Khan has been issued a ticket from LA 15 Diamer 1, Attaullah Shah from LA 16 Diamer 2, and Muhammad Naseem from LA 17 Diamer 3.
The Peoples Party has nominated Pir Syed Jalal Ali Shah from LA 19 Ghizer 1, Nazir Ahmed from LA 20 Ghizer 2, and Muhammad Ayub Shah from LA 21 Ghizer 3.
The party has issued tickets to Dr. Ashiq Hussain from LA 22 Ghanche 1 and Engineer Muhammad Ismail from LA 24 Ghanche 3.
It has also announced candidates for reserved and technocrat seats. Among women are Kulsoom Jahangir, former Deputy Speaker Sadia Danish, Sabiha Jabeen Muqaddam, Khadija Akbar, Fahmida Shaheen, Parveen Bano, Saeeda Mughal, and Zareesh Fatima, while for technocrat reserved seats, Dr. Sharafat Astore, Ali Madad Sher, Niaz Ali, and Momin Jan are selected.
