The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has tasked a 16-member committee, headed by Maryam Nawaz, daughter of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, to supervise the election drive of the party for Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly. Upon completion of the first tenure of Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly on December 10 last year and consequent with the formation of the caretaker setup, the three national political parties including PML-N, the former ruling Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have launched their election campaigns.
According to insiders, the ruling PML-N will formally launch its election drive on March 19. However, the party leadership has tasked Maryam Nawaz to lead the 16-member committee for the PML-N election campaign in Gilgit-Baltistan. Hamza Shahbaz, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Abid Sher Ali, Saad Rafiq, Marvi Memon, Balighur Rahman, Hanif Abbasi, Tahir Iqbal, Riaz Hussain Pirzada and Murtaza Javed Abbasi are prominent members among others of the committee.
The committee membership has been approved by the Prime Minister and tasked to supervise the election campaign and co-ordinate efforts with the local leadership to ensure maximum seats in the elections scheduled for May. The committee members, according to insiders, will not only co-ordinate with the local leadership in its election campaign but also submit report to the Prime Minister about the elections prospects.
Under the Presidential Order of 2009, the federal government introduced a new governance system in Gilgit-Baltistan with its 33-member elected assembly and a 15-member council, half of whom are nominated by the Prime Minister. The 33-member assembly consists of 24 members elected from geographical constituencies and six women and three technocrats elected on the pattern of reserved seats. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan recently questioned the appointment of Birjees Tahir as Governor Gilgit-Baltistan and other members of the caretaker setup.
"Appointing Birjees Tahir as Governor Gilgit-Baltistan and the caretaker chief minister as well as cabinet ministers, all of whom are PML-N members, indicates that the PML-N has already fixed the elections in G-B," Imran recently told a press conference.
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