Bilawal vows to ensure ownership rights, 18th Amendment protections for Gilgit-Baltistan

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Friday promised to ensure the right of ownership and the protections of the 18th Constitutional Amendment for the people of Gilgit-Baltistan. His remarks came during a public rally in Gilgit, part of his region-wide campaign ahead of the June 7 elections. Addressing the rally, Bilawal said it was part of the PPP’s election manifesto to grant all constitutional rights to the region, including the right to own land and financial protections under the 18th Constitutional Amendment. He urged the people of GB to give the PPP a “heavy mandate”, so the party could continue its struggle to secure the region’s ownership rights, calling on them to spread his message. Bilawal said legislation on the matter had been tabled in the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly and had been passed by the house. “As per the legislation, 28,000 square miles of land owned by the government has been converted into common land. We have fulfilled our promise to this stage,” the PPP chairman said. Bilawal added that the legislation should now be implemented. “I request the people of Gilgit-Baltistan that this time I need a heavy majority,” he said, warning that if any party other than the PPP came into power, it would “tear this legislation apart”. “Whether you belong to the PPP or not, I request all the people of the region to vote for the PPP, because only we can safeguard ownership rights.” More to follow