Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Karachi Division Information Secretary and spokesperson Fauzia Siddiqui today accused the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) of attempting to mislead voters in Gilgit-Baltistan through what she described as ‘unrealistic promises’ ahead of the upcoming elections.
In a statement, Ms Fauzia said that the PPP was presenting the people of Gilgit-Baltistan with the same ‘false hopes’ it had previously offered to the people of Karachi. She alleged that, despite remaining in power in Sindh for nearly eighteen years, the party had failed to address Karachi’s longstanding civic issues and had deprived citizens of basic public services.
The PTI leader said that PPP leaders were making ambitious promises ahead of the Gilgit-Baltistan elections but maintained that voters were now more aware and less likely to be influenced by political slogans. She argued that commitments made by Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to the people of Sindh before the 2024 general elections had yet to be fulfilled.
Ms Fauzia noted that Mr Bhutto Zardari had pledged to provide 300 units of free electricity to consumers in Sindh, a promise she claimed remained unfulfilled. She criticised the party’s latest commitments in Gilgit-Baltistan, including proposals for free electricity units, calling them another attempt to win public support through promises that may not materialise.
She also criticised the ruling coalition, alleging that both the PPP and the Pakistan Muslim League-N Pakistan Muslim League-N had failed to deliver on commitments made to voters and that their policies had contributed to inflation, unemployment, and poor governance.
Referring to electoral politics, Ms Fauzia said that parties which had previously advocated respect for the public mandate had themselves failed to uphold democratic principles. She maintained that PTI Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and its founder, Imran Khan, enjoyed significant public support in Gilgit-Baltistan and claimed that the party would secure a decisive victory if elections were conducted in a free, fair, and transparent manner.
The PTI spokesperson further warned against any attempt to make the election process controversial, stating that public confidence in electoral institutions could be further eroded if concerns regarding transparency were not addressed.
She urged election authorities and other stakeholders to ensure that the Gilgit-Baltistan polls are conducted impartially and without controversy. Respecting the electorate’s decision, she said, was essential for maintaining public trust in the democratic process.