Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Sindh President Haleem Adil Sheikh on Thursday criticised the situation surrounding the upcoming Gilgit-Baltistan elections, alleging discriminatory treatment against his party and calling for a free, fair, and transparent electoral process.
In a statement, Haleem said that the situation in Gilgit-Baltistan reflected what he described as ‘one state, two systems,’ claiming that while the state remained the same, different rules and standards were being applied to different political parties.
The PTI Sindh chief alleged that PTI leaders were being forcibly removed from Gilgit-Baltistan, while leaders of rival political parties, including Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and Nawaz Sharif, along with their associates, were being welcomed and facilitated. He claimed that a ‘red carpet’ was being rolled out for government-backed parties, while PTI, which he described as the country’s largest political party, was being prevented from conducting its election campaign.
He further alleged that PTI leaders travelling to Gilgit-Baltistan were either being detained or sent back, while leaders of other parties were being provided with protocol and facilities. He said that this reflected a clear double standard in the electoral process.
Claiming strong public support for PTI, Haleem said that the people of Gilgit-Baltistan stood with former prime minister Imran Khan and his political narrative. He stressed that voters should be allowed to make their decisions freely and that the electoral process should remain free from interference.
He urged decision-makers to act prudently and respect public opinion, warning that any attempt to impose decisions against the will of the people of Gilgit-Baltistan could have adverse consequences. He also cautioned against any move that could threaten national unity and stability.
He demanded that the Gilgit-Baltistan elections be conducted in a transparent, impartial, and independent manner and called for voters to be granted the full right to exercise their democratic choice freely.
Expressing confidence in PTI’s electoral prospects, Haleem said that the party would secure a decisive victory in Gilgit-Baltistan and claimed that both Form 45 and Form 47 would favour PTI.