GB election results withheld

ISLAMABAD: The Gilgit-Baltistan Election Commission has instructed returning officers not to complete the consolidation of results from the June 7 election until re-polling is held in five constituencies and those results are added to the constituency totals.

In a circular issued to the relevant returning officers, the commission said re-polling had been ordered at certain polling stations in Skardu-II (GBA-8), Astore-I (GBA-13), Diamer-I (GBA-15), Diamer-II (GBA-16), and Diamer-III (GBA-17). The process for consolidating results under the Elections Act, 2017 and Elections Rules, 2017 would only be completed after the outcomes from the affected polling stations were incorporated into the constituency-wise result.

The commission also directed the returning officers not to open, scrutinise or count postal ballots, and not to finalise, consolidate, announce or issue final results in the concerned constituencies before the re-polling process is completed. The order applies to the five constituencies where repeat voting has been scheduled.

In a statement, Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Election Commissioner Raja Shahbaz Khan said re-polling would take place on June 15 at 26 polling stations across the five constituencies. According to the chief election commissioner, this includes 10 polling stations in Skardu-II (GBA-8), one in Astore-I (GBA-13), one in Diamer-I (GBA-15), three in Diamer-II (GBA-16), and 11 in Diamer-III (GBA-17).

Recount ordered in other constituencies

A day earlier, the Gilgit-Baltistan Election Commission had also ordered a recount in two other constituencies and some polling stations. One of the recount orders was issued after independent candidate Safdar Ali Shirazi and Pakistan Peoples Party candidate Nazir Ahmed Advocate formally sought a recount of votes in Ghizer-II (GBA-20).

The two candidates alleged irregularities during the vote counting process in their request for a recount. The latest directions mean final results in several constituencies will remain pending until the election process ordered by the commission, including re-polling and recounting where applicable, is completed.