The Balawaristan National Front-Naji is a minor pro-Pakistani branch of the party seeking to declare Gilgit-Baltistan a province of Pakistan. It also wants to give the people of Gilgit Baltistan representation in the Pakistani National Assembly and Senate, and to extend the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court to the region. The party is represented in the 33-seat Gilgit Baltistan Legislative Assembly by a single member, Nawaz Khan Naji. On November 3, 2003 Nawaz Khan Najee (the party's supreme head) participated in a rally demanding United Nations intervention regarding the status of Gilgit and Baltistan. The party later decided to field two candidates for the 33 member assembly, but neither was voted into power. However, the package, for the first time in the history of Gilgit-Baltistan, addressed the political grievances of the local population who had felt discriminated against as they were ineligible to vote in Pakistani elections (Pakistan regards the area as a disputed territory - and any attempts to incorporate the region into the Pakistani state would jeopardize its claim vis-a-vis India). The people of the region were granted self-rule, citizenship within Pakistan, and an elected legislature to administer the region. The party fielded two candidates in the 2009 elections for the legislative assembly of Gilgit-Baltistan - though neither candidate was elected to the 33-seat assembly, which is dominated by mainstream Pakistani parties such as PPP, PML, and JUI. However, in a special by-election in 2011, BNF founder Nawaz Khan Naji won the seat from LA-22 (Ghizar-I), with 46.4% of ballots cast in his favor. In June 2015, BNF won the elections for Ghizer District beating PML-N by 92 votes. BNF collected 5,195 votes compared to PML-N of 5,102 votes. Nawaz Khan Najee was elected the CM of District. Later on in 2015 Gilgit Baltistan Legislative Assembly elections, Nawaz Khan Naji again won a seat in Legislative Assembly by winning from GBLA-19. In 2017, Nawaz Khan Naji expressed support for China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). See also Gilgit-Baltistan United Movement Kashmir conflict References External links Website of Balawaristan National Front Balawaristan Times The Human Rights Problem in Gilgit-Baltistan by Paul Beersmans, 2008-06-28 We are neither Pakistanis nor Kashmiris-Interview with Nawaj Khan Naji Part 1, Rediff.com, 2004-03-15 We are ready to fight against Pakistan-Interview with Nawaj Khan Naji Part 2. Rediff.com, 2004-03-16 End reign of terror, deprivation in Gilgit, Baltistan, Emma Nicholson, member European Parliament, 2008-04-08 Kashmir separatist movement History