Four independent GB Assembly members join IPP after meeting with Abdul Aleem Khan

GILGIT: At least four independent winners of the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly elections have joined the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP), announcing their decision during a meeting with Federal Minister for Communications and IPP President Abdul Aleem Khan on Tuesday.

The lawmakers include Anwar Ali from GBA-23 Ghanche-2, Asad Shafiq from GBA-24 Ghanche-3, Muhammad Dilpazeer from GBA-15 Diamer-1 and Aman Ali from GBA-21 Ghizer-3.

Speaking on the occasion, Muhammad Dilpazeer said the group of independent candidates had collectively decided to join the IPP and was also in contact with other independents as well as nominees of the Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM).

He said the group would extend invitations to other independent members to join the party, expressing confidence that the IPP would emerge as the second-largest political force in the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly.

The general elections for 24 seats of the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly were held on June 7, with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) emerging as the single largest party by securing 10 seats in the preliminary and unofficial results.

According to unofficial results, PPP secured victories in constituencies including GBA-1, GBA-4, GBA-5, GBA-7, GBA-9, GBA-10, GBA-11, GBA-12, GBA-17 and GBA-19.

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Following the elections, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif invited the PPP to form the government in Gilgit-Baltistan, stating that the party had emerged as the leading force in the region’s polls.

In a statement issued on June 12, the prime minister assured full support to the PPP-led government formation process in the region.

He also said the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) would sit on opposition benches in the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly but would support the PPP in the formation of the government, describing the decision as aligned with democratic traditions.