PPP reaches 11 seats after GB election chief decides remaining petitions

GILGIT: Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Raja Shahbaz Khan on Wednesday announced rulings on the three remaining election petitions, taking the Pakistan Peoples Party’s tally in the GB Assembly to 11 seats.

According to the decisions announced by the CEC, PPP candidate Attaullah was declared successful from GBA-16 Diamer-II, while Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz candidates Malik Kefayat and the party’s contender from GBA-13 Astore-I were also declared winners in their respective constituencies. The petitions had been filed by rival candidates challenging the Form-47 results.

Raja Shahbaz Khan had earlier suspended the results in these constituencies after hearing arguments from both sides and had reserved his judgement. He said notifications of the returned candidates would now be issued.

Party position after decisions

With the latest decisions, the PPP has secured 11 seats in the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly, while the PML-N has won six. Independent candidates, who joined the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) a day earlier, have four seats, PTI-backed candidates have won two, and Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen has secured one seat.

The GB CEC said the six seats reserved for women and three seats reserved for technocrats would be allocated among political parties in line with their strength in the assembly after the official notifications are issued.

Earlier dispute in Diamer constituency

The GBA-16 Diamer-II constituency had remained contentious in recent days. Supporters of independent candidate Imam Malik had staged protests by blocking the Karakoram Highway in Chilas and were demanding re-polling at certain polling stations.

The chief election commissioner had earlier ordered re-polling at three stations in GBA-16, but later withdrew that decision. He had also deferred the results for GBA-13 Astore-I and GBA-16 Diamer-II until June 17.

Turnout and HRCP concerns

According to the Election Commission, the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly elections held on June 7 recorded a voter turnout of 70 per cent. The CEC had previously described the turnout as a sign of the public’s strong confidence in the democratic process.

However, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), which observed the polls and had held back its assessment until recounting and final consolidation of results were completed, expressed serious concern over the Election Commission’s move to suspend re-polling in five constituencies soon after ordering it and then proceed with final results.

In a statement issued on Monday, the HRCP said the initial re-polling decision had led some opposition parties and candidates to allege that recounting and related steps could be used to affect electoral outcomes and influence government formation. It warned that abrupt reversals of this kind could deepen existing perceptions of political interference and weaken public confidence in the electoral process and its administration.