PPP wins maiden regional elections

Islamabad: The ruling Pakistan People's Party (PPP) has won the maiden elections for a legislative assembly held in the Gilgit-Baltistan northern region.

According to unofficial results available for 20 out of 23 seats contested in the polls held on Thursday, PPP has won 11 with the main opposition Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) getting two seats.

Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), strong in southern Sindh province, managed to win one seat as did the religious Jamiat Ulema Islam-F, an ally of PPP, and the PML-Q, which ruled during the reign of former military ruler Pervez Musharraf.

Four independent candidates also won in the elections, which will lead to formation of a political government and give the region a virtual status of fifth province of Pakistan, with its own governor, chief minister and assembly.

The region has no representation in the federal parliament and a demand for this is likely to gain momentum now.

The victory was a morale-booster for the PPP, in the wake of recent blow when it was forced to drop a plan for parliamentary endorsement of a Musharraf era ordinance for amnesty to politicians in pending corruption cases.

The PML-N and other parties claimed government resources were used to influence the voters in favour of PPP candidates.

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani denies that.