GB election notification to be issued within 14 days, says chief election commissioner

ISLAMABAD: Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Election Commissioner Raja Shahbaz Khan has said the final notification for the region’s elections will be issued within 14 days in line with the law, even as authorities continue to compile results from far-flung areas and hear a series of election-related petitions.

According to a press release issued by the Gilgit-Baltistan Election Commission, the election process concluded peacefully and work is continuing to finalise the outcome. Referring to Section 98 of the Election Act, Khan said the process was taking longer because results from remote localities were still being gathered and consolidated.

The commission said nine petitions relating to the elections are under process. It stated that hearings in three petitions have already been held, while the remaining matters were scheduled for Friday, adding that this stage would be completed soon.

The press release said Form 49, which contains the final official result, has been issued for GBA-6 Hunza, GBA-11 Kharmang, GBA-23 Ghanche II and GBA 23 Ghanche III. Khan also said re-polling orders had been issued in five constituencies, while work on finalising results in the remaining seats was continuing.

Government formation talks continue

Unofficial results on Form 47 from the June 7 elections place the Pakistan Peoples Party in the lead with 11 seats in the 24-member Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly, while the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz has won six. PTI-backed candidates secured two seats, Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen, an ally of PTI, won one seat, and independents took four seats.

Against that backdrop, PPP and PML-N leaders met in Gilgit to discuss possible arrangements for the formation of the next regional government, but no final agreement was announced. In its statement, the PPP described the discussions as a major advance and said proposals regarding government formation would be placed before the central leadership of both parties. It added that broader political cooperation and a range of national and domestic issues also came under discussion.

The PPP delegation said the people of Gilgit-Baltistan had given the party the mandate by making it the largest political force in the assembly. It further said any decision on government formation would be taken in line with democratic norms, political consultation and public interest.

In a separate statement, the PML-N said several proposals were discussed and that both sides agreed to continue the consultative process. It said the next course of action would be decided after reviewing the proposals and taking the central leadership of both parties into confidence.

The PPP delegation included Secretary General Nayyer Hussain Bukhari, Qamar Zaman Kaira, Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Memon, Sindh Local Government Minister Nasir Hussain Shah, and Advocate Amjad Hussain, the party’s Gilgit-Baltistan president and a leading contender for the chief minister’s office. The PML-N side included Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Amir Muqam and the party’s Gilgit-Baltistan president, former chief minister Hafiz Hafeezur Rehman.

Re-polling, recount and protest

The commission has withheld consolidation of results in five constituencies pending re-polling at certain polling stations in GBA-8 Skardu-II, GBA-13 Astore-I, GBA-15 Diamer-I, GBA-16 Diamer-II and GBA-17 Diamer-III.

However, the election commission on Wednesday withdrew its earlier notification that had ordered re-polling at 10 polling stations in GBA-8 Skardu-II. Following that move, the returning officer for the constituency issued Form 49, declaring MWM candidate Kazim Mesum elected.

Separately, the commission ordered a recount in GBA-09 Skardu-III after an inquiry into allegations of polling irregularities as well as illegal and corrupt practices. An official notification issued on June 11 said the chief election commissioner approved the recommendation contained in a report submitted by the district returning officer and directed that recounting be carried out under the Elections Act.

The recount is to be held after notice is served on all contesting candidates and their authorised election agents. The commission also instructed officials to scrutinise ballot papers carefully during the process to ensure accuracy, transparency and proper determination of the votes. It said the result would be finalised and consolidated after the recount in accordance with the Elections Act, 2017 and the Elections Rules, 2017. PPP candidate Fida Muhammad Nashad had earlier been declared the winner of the constituency in Form 47.

In Diamer, supporters of PPP candidate Attaullah in GBA-16 continued a protest outside the district returning officer’s office in Chilas for a fourth straight day on Thursday, blocking the Karakoram Highway. The protesters demanded that postal ballots be counted and that the final result for the constituency be announced without delay. They also opposed re-polling at three polling stations and said they would continue the blockade until the official result was issued and Form 48 released.