GB court suspends results in three constituencies as Diamer-II outcome remains pending

ISLAMABAD: The Gilgit-Baltistan Supreme Appellate Court on Friday suspended election results in three constituencies, while the consolidated result for GBA-16 (Diamer-II) could not be issued despite directions from the Gilgit-Baltistan chief election commissioner (CEC), extending delays in the formation of the regional government after the June 7 polls.

Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Shamim Khan heard multiple election-related petitions concerning PPP candidate Fida Muhammad Nashad from GBA-9 (Skardu), PPP candidate Mohammad Naseem from GBA-17 (Diamer-III), and independent candidate Dilpazeer Khan from GBA-15 (Diamer-I), who later joined the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP).

Three constituency results put on hold

In GBA-9, Nashad had earlier been disqualified by the returning officer (RO) for not declaring his assets in nomination papers. An election tribunal judge upheld that disqualification, but the candidate later challenged the ruling in the GB Chief Court, which allowed him to contest the election. According to the regional election commission, he was later declared successful after a recount, and Forms 48 and 49 were issued on Wednesday. During Friday’s hearing, however, the chief justice upheld Nashad’s disqualification and suspended the release of the constituency’s result.

In GBA-17, the court also ordered suspension of the result of PPP candidate Mohammad Naseem. On June 15, the GB chief election commissioner had passed an order in his favour, after which the RO issued Forms 48 and 49. That decision was subsequently challenged by a rival candidate in the Supreme Appellate Court.

In a separate matter, the chief justice suspended the result of Dilpazeer Khan in GBA-15. A petition before the court had challenged the CEC’s decision declaring him the winner without holding a re-poll. In all three matters, the court directed the relevant authorities to keep the results suspended until further proceedings and final rulings.

Diamer-II result still not consolidated

The consolidated result for GBA-16 (Diamer-II) also remained pending. The CEC had instructed the RO to count postal ballots and complete Forms 48 and 49 within one day, but supporters of independent candidates gathered outside the RO’s office and tried to stop the ballot count.

On June 17, the CEC issued a decision on an election petition filed by PPP candidate Attaullah Khan and directed that the consolidated result be prepared after counting postal ballots. He also withdrew his earlier order for re-polling at three polling stations in the constituency.

Supporters of independent candidate Imam Malik have been protesting in favour of re-polling at certain polling stations. Earlier, the GB CEC had announced a re-poll schedule for three polling stations on Malik’s petition. Attaullah had separately challenged that re-polling plan for the same stations.

Attaullah’s supporters have also been protesting outside the district returning officer’s office in Chilas, calling for implementation of the CEC’s orders on counting postal ballots and issuing the final result. They said an attempt was being made to deprive the PPP candidate of his mandate in GBA-16. According to PPP protesters, Form 47 showed Malik ahead by 24 votes, but official figures gave Malik 180 postal votes and Attaullah 473 postal votes. They added that, based on Form 48 records, Attaullah had won by 269 votes.

GB CEC Raja Shahbaz Khan said he had disposed of the petition and ordered consolidation of the result.

"It is up to the RO to count the postal ballots and prepare Forms 48 and 49", he stated.

He added that he was required to issue notifications for winning candidates within 15 days of polling. The CEC had also said elected members from 24 constituencies would be notified 14 days after polling day, while noting that notifications would be issued after Form 49 was released.

Assembly position

In a separate development, PTI-backed independent member-elect from Hunza, Naiknam Karim, joined the PPP on Friday, and the chief election commissioner issued a confirmation letter regarding his joining the party.

Following that development, the PPP emerged as the largest party in the 24-member GB Assembly with 12 seats. The six reserved seats for women and three technocrat seats are to be allocated among parties in line with their share of general seats.

Earlier this month, the Election Commission of Pakistan had directed that the results of the June 7 election should not be consolidated until re-polling in five constituencies was completed, including GBA-15 and GBA-17.