PPP secures 11 seats as GB election chief decides remaining election petitions

GILGIT: Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Raja Shahbaz Khan on Wednesday announced decisions on three pending election petitions, giving the PPP 11 seats.

The election chief declared PPP candidate Attaullah the winner from GBA-16 Diamer-II, PML-N candidate Malik Kefayat from GBA-17 and PML-N candidate from GBA-13 Astore-I.

The rival candidates had filed petitions with the GB Election Commission, challenging the Form-47 results.

After hearing arguments from both sides, CEC Raja Shahbaz Khan had suspended the results and reserved his verdict on the petitions.

With the announcement, the PPP has secured 11 seats, the PML-N has secured six, independent candidates — who joined the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) a day earlier — have won four, PTI-backed candidates have won two and the Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen has secured one seat.

The GB CEC said the notifications for the successful candidates would now be issued. He said six seats reserved for women and three technocrat seats would be distributed among parties according to the number of their seats after the official notification.

It is worth mentioning that the supporters of the independent candidate in GBA-16, Imam Malik, had been protesting by blocking the Karakoram Highway at Chilas and demanding re-polling at specific stations.

The GB CEC had earlier ordered re-polling at three stations in GBA-16 but had later rescinded the decision. He had also deferred results for GBA-13 Astore-I and GBA-16 Diamer-II till June 17 (today).

According to the Election Commission, the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly elections held on June 7 witnessed a high voter turnout of 70 per cent, which the CEC had earlier described as a reflection of the public’s deep confidence in the democratic process.

However, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), which observed the elections and had withheld its assessment pending recounting processes and the final consolidation of results, has expressed serious concern over the Election Commission’s decision to suspend re-polling in five constituencies shortly after ordering it and to proceed with the announcement of final results.

According to a statement issued by the HRCP on Monday, the initial decision to hold re-polling had prompted some opposition parties and candidates to allege that recounting and related measures could be used to influence electoral outcomes and shape the formation of the government.

The commission said that abrupt changes of this nature risk reinforcing existing perceptions of political interference and undermining public confidence in the electoral process and its administration. ...