PPP leads GB polls as counting continues amid rigging allegations

• Unofficial results show PPP ahead in 24-seat Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly contest

• PML-N secures leading on 5 seats, PTI on three and independents leading in 2 constituencies

• Polling held peacefully across 1,691 stations with tight security arrangements

• Parties raise concerns over Form-45, voter lists and polling station changes

• PTI alleges ‘systematic rigging,’ demanding immediate release of result forms

• PPP also flags irregularities, claims manipulation in key constituencies

 GILGIT/DIAMIR/ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) emerged as the leading political force in the Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly elections on Sunday, securing a majority in 11 of the 24 constituencies on the basis of unofficial and preliminary results, as counting continued across the mountainous region after largely peaceful polling.

Polling for the 24 directly elected seats of the 33-member Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly was held from 8am to 5pm across 1,691 polling stations, with over 7,500 polling staff deployed to facilitate voting. A total of 13 seats are required to form the next government in the strategically significant region.

گلکت بلتستان انتخابات 2026 کے غیر حتمی غیر سرکاری نتائج کے مطابق جی بی اے 12 شگر سے پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی کے امیدوار عمران ندیم کامیاب۔ جیالوں کا جشن #گلگت_میں_تیرچلےگا pic.twitter.com/CMoo1pz16H

— PPP (@MediaCellPPP) June 7, 2026

According to preliminary and unofficial results, the PPP was leading with 11 seats, followed by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) with 5 seats, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) with 3 seats, Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen with 1 seat, while independent candidates were leading in 2 constituencies.

The GB Assembly comprises 33 seats in total, including 24 elected through direct polls, 6 reserved for women and 3 reserved for technocrats and professionals. Reserved seats are filled through proportional representation based on party strength.

A total of 396 candidates contested the elections, including 130 nominees from 24 political parties and 266 independent candidates. Only eight women were in the race, five of them contesting as independents. The region has 963,034 registered voters, including 566,097 male and 396,937 female voters across 10 districts.

Polling, which was delayed by around four months due to harsh winter conditions, remained largely peaceful throughout the day with no major incidents of violence reported. Security arrangements remained tight across sensitive constituencies.

 Allegations of irregularities

However, as polling concluded, political parties raised allegations regarding the transparency of the process and the issuance of result forms.

PPP Secretary General Nayyar Hussain Bukhari alleged that the party was not being provided Form-45, the official result sheet prepared by presiding officers at polling stations. He said the matter had been taken up with the Chief Election Commissioner.

PPP spokesperson Shazia Marri termed the delay in issuance of Form-45 “unacceptable” and alleged that voter lists had been altered and polling stations relocated ahead of polling, describing these actions as indicative of rigging.

She also referred to reports that a polling station in Astore-II’s Bunji area had been shifted overnight from roadside to a hilltop location, claiming it could affect voter turnout. The PPP further alleged that local residents protested by blocking the Gilgit-Skardu Road.

Marri said the party would not accept any attempt to “steal the public mandate” and urged the Election Commission to ensure transparency and release accurate results.

PPP leader Nadeem Afzal also alleged “electoral engineering,” claiming that the presence of federal ministers in GB was being used to influence the process. He further alleged pressure on presiding officers regarding Form-45 issuance.

Separately, PTI also claimed it was leading in initial trends before alleging irregularities after polling ended. The party questioned turnout figures exceeding 80 per cent in some areas and raised concerns over ballot counts it described as unusually high.

PTI alleged that its polling agents were not being issued Form-46, calling it a violation of election rules, and claimed incidents of fake ballots being recovered in some constituencies. It termed the situation a “systematic attempt at rigging” and demanded immediate release of Form-45 and Form-46 to all candidates.

The party further alleged pre-poll manipulation including tampering with voter lists, changes in polling schemes, and harassment of candidates and workers. It warned of legal and democratic action if results were manipulated.

Election activity and monitoring

The Election Commission of Gilgit-Baltistan said polling was conducted under tight security arrangements, with additional deployment of law enforcement personnel in sensitive areas.

Chief Election Commissioner Raja Shahbaz Khan, who visited multiple polling stations in Gilgit city, said the overall environment remained peaceful and voter turnout—particularly among women—was encouraging. He said he inspected around 10 polling stations and reviewed arrangements.

پولنگ کا عمل صبح 8بجے سے بلا تعطل جاری ہے
مختلف پولنگ اسٹیشنز کا دورہ کیا ،عوام پرجوش ہیں
لیڈیز پولنگ سٹیشنز میں خواتین کی بڑی تعداد دیکھنے میں آرہی ہے
عوام کیلئے سکیورٹی کے بہترین انتظامات کیے گئے ہیں
عوام پر امن طریقے سے انتخابات کو انجام تک پہنچائیں
گلگت کے عوام ووٹ کاسٹ… pic.twitter.com/FN9uquBcdP

— PTV News (@PTVNewsOfficial) June 7, 2026

Caretaker Interior Minister Sajid Ali Baig also visited several polling stations, stating that polling remained peaceful overall, with minor issues being addressed by authorities.

According to official arrangements, 6,000 Punjab police personnel and 2,000 Islamabad police personnel were deployed to assist local forces. Out of 1,391 polling stations, 488 were normal, 349 sensitive and 551 highly sensitive, with Diamer district having the highest number of highly sensitive stations.

Political participation and campaigns

PPP fielded 23 candidates, PML-N 22, Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party 15, PML-Q 11, Tehreek-e-Islami Pakistan 10, Pakistan Nazriyati Party 10, and JUI-F 9 candidates.

GB Election 2026: Vote for PML-N candidates. Vote for the Sher. Vote for progress, development, and a brighter Gilgit-Baltistan.#GBSherKa #SherGBMein pic.twitter.com/oszP681xBA

— PMLN (@pmln_org) June 6, 2026

PTI, contesting as independents due to lack of electoral symbol, allied with Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen and fielded candidates across constituencies.

نکلو پاکستان کی خاطر
نکلو اپنے مستقبل کی خاطر#گلگت_بلتستان_خان_کا pic.twitter.com/l1tBnJaxPA

— PTI (@PTIofficial) June 6, 2026

Jamaat-i-Islami, MQM-P, Awami Workers Party and ANP also participated with limited nominations.

گلگت بلتستان جنرل الیکشن 7جون 2026،
عقاب کے نشان پرمہرلگائیں۔۔۔آئی پی پی امیدواران کو کامیاب کروائیں
استحکام پاکستان پارٹی کی انتخابی مہم عروج پر۔۔#7JuneVoteIPP #GBWithIPP #GBElection2026 #GilgitBaltistanVotesIPP pic.twitter.com/HcBH6LlONk

— Istehkam-E-Pakistan Party (@istehkamPK) June 5, 2026

PPP, IPP and PNP each fielded one woman candidate

Among key contestants, PPP’s Advocate Amjad Hussain (GBA-1 Gilgit-I) and PML-N’s Hafiz Hafeezur Rehman (GBA-2 Gilgit-II) were considered major contenders. Hussain has previously served in the GB Assembly and Council, while Rehman is a former chief minister of Gilgit-Baltistan.

Judicial and electoral oversight

Separately, the Gilgit-Baltistan Supreme Appellate Court directed the Election Commission to ensure free, fair and transparent elections after receiving correspondence from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi.

The court noted assurances from the Chief Election Commissioner regarding impartial conduct of the electoral process and reiterated its commitment to ensuring justice and transparency in the elections.

 Election day statements

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari urged voters to support the party’s “arrow” symbol, pledging constitutional rights, employment opportunities and greater autonomy for Gilgit-Baltistan if elected.

چیئرمین پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی بلاول بھٹو زرداری کا گلگت بلتستان کے عوام کیلئے پولنگ ڈے پر خصوصی پیغام

آج بڑی تعداد میں باہر نکال کر پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی کے نامزد امیدواروں کو تیر کے نشان پر مہر لگا کر کامیاب بنائیں تاکہ حق حاکمیت، حق روزگار، حق ملکیت کو یقینی بنایا جاسکے اور… pic.twitter.com/ib8t8Mw6MH

— PPP (@MediaCellPPP) June 7, 2026

He said the PPP aimed to secure “constitutional rights and governance rights” for the region and pledged development and ownership rights for local communities.

PML-N’s Hafiz Hafeezur Rehman highlighted his party’s campaign activities, including corner meetings, rallies and development-focused messaging.

7 جون — الیکشن ڈے
سابق وزیرِ اعلیٰ گلگت بلتستان و صوبائی صدر پاکستان مسلم لیگ (ن) حافظ حفیظ الرحمن کا اپنے تمام ووٹرز، سپورٹرز، عوام اور کارکنان کے نام اہم پیغام:#GBSherKa #SherGBMein #PMLNGilgitBaltistan pic.twitter.com/CXgLkuNjyv

— Hafiz Hafeez Ur Rehman (@CMGBPK) June 6, 2026

He pledged renewed infrastructure development, governance reforms and restoration of services, including efforts to address load-shedding and infrastructure gaps.

With counting still underway, the final composition of the next GB government remains dependent on the allocation of reserved seats and possible post-poll alliances, as political parties continue to contest preliminary results amid competing claims of victory and allegations of irregularities.

Tight security

As part of security arrangements, 6,000 Punjab police personnel and 2,000 from Islamabad police — including 150 personnel from its security division — have been assigned for election duty in the mountainous region.

According to a list issued by the GB Election Commission, a total of 1,391 polling stations have been established across the region, of which 488 are categorised as normal, 349 as sensitive and 551 as highly sensitive.

Diamer, with 119 highly sensitive polling stations out of a total of 174, has the highest number of such stations among all districts.

Additional security personnel will be deployed at vulnerable locations, while law enforcement agencies and the district administration will remain on high alert throughout the election process.

On Saturday, the GB CEC urged voters to exercise their democratic right and play a constructive role in maintaining law and order.

He asserted that all necessary arrangements had been put in place to ensure peaceful, free, fair and transparent elections across the region.

CEC Khan had delegated powers of a first-class magistrate to all district returning officers (DROs) and returning officers (ROs) for the peaceful and transparent conduct of the elections.