The PML-Q has issued party tickets to 11 candidates for the upcoming Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly elections, party spokesperson Mustafa Malik announced on Sunday. The candidates were finalised with the approval of parliamentary board chairman Chaudhry Salik Hussain.

Members of the parliamentary board, including Tariq Hassan, Dr Muhammad Amjad, Malik Sameen, Kamran Usmani, and Niaz Khaskheli also visited Gilgit and Skardu as part of the consultation process.

Provincial president Dilfraz Khan briefed the central leadership on election preparations in the G-B.

The party, which led the ruling coalition in the Centre between 2002 and 2008, has fielded candidates from Gilgit, Nagar, Hunza, Skardu, Astore, Diamer, Ghizer, and Ghanche districts.

According to the announcement, Dilfraz Khan will contest from GBA-1 Gilgit-I, Asim Khan from GBA-2, Muhammad Sharif from GBA-3 Gilgit-III, Abid Hussain from GBA-5 Nagar-I, and female candidate Khushnoor Didar from GBA-6 Hunza-I.

Captain Sikandar Ali will contest from GBA-8 Skardu-II, while Captain (retd) Mehdi Khan has been nominated for GBA-12 Shigar-I.

Ghazanfar Akram Khan will contest from GBA-14 Astore-II, Noorul Haq Hab-ul-Haq Khan from GBA-15 Diamer-I, Sher Alam Gozri from GBA-19 Ghizer-I, Bakhtawar Shah from GBA-20 Ghizer-II, Tajwar Hussain from GBA-21 Ghizer-III, and Sheikh Altaf Hussain from GBA-24 Ghanche-III.

Chaudhry Salik Hussain said the PML-Q is participating in the elections with a spirit of public service and aims to advance an agenda of development and prosperity in the region. Dilfraz Khan said the candidates have full confidence in the party leadership and will run a vigorous election campaign.