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중도 성향
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Finland jails businessman for trafficking Thai berry workers
The workers were misled about earning opportunities and picking conditions.
"OPPORTUNITIES" · 총 311건
필터 보기현재 지수
50.3
0 = 부정 우세
50 = 중립
100 = 긍정 우세
최근 7일 기준 84,969건을 분석한 결과, 뉴스 심리지수는 50.2(균형)입니다. 긍정 4,413건(5.2%)·중립 78,405건(92.3%)·부정 2,151건(2.5%)이며, 중립 비중이 뚜렷하게 높습니다. 성향 지수는 종합 15.2(중도 균형)입니다.
The workers were misled about earning opportunities and picking conditions.
The Dutch government is failing to live up to its commitments to ensure equal opportunities for disabled people, leaving many...
When asked about a wave of consolidation among airlines, Kirby said further combination opportunities look unlikely: "There's nothing."
According to Khalilur Rahman, vast potential for cooperation exists in the labor resources sphere
The head of Samsung Electronics' memory business said Monday he met with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and discussed long-term cooperation in next-generation high-bandwidth memory (HBM) products. Jun Young-hyun, who leads Samsung Electronics' device solutions division, made the remarks to reporters after meeting Huang during his visit to South Korea to meet industry leaders to explore broader cooperation opportunities across the artificial intelligence (AI) ecosystem. "We have maintained cooperation w
Darkened storefronts represent wasted opportunities to reach for the American Dream. Yet Mamdani still doesn’t have a comprehensive economic development strategy.
A growing number of foreign leaders have made East China's Zhejiang Province a key stop on their official visits. Why is the province so attractive? The answers lie in the province's booming robotics industry, abundant business opportunities, and development experience.
Profesa Wolokoso has shared his harrowing journey through alcohol, revealing lost opportunities and fractured relationships in a life he no longer recognises.
[spotlight] Propelled by an early vision to help others, Dr Abba Mallum tells Spotlight about his roots in Borno State, about opportunities in Stellenbosch and Durban, and about his pioneering PhD in radiotherapy and oncology.
BEIJING, June 8--Currently, relations between China and the Democratic Peoples Republic of Koreastand at a new historical starting point, facing new development opportunities and shouldering new missions of the times, Xi Jinping.
Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Algernon Yau described the recent visit to Central Asia by a delegation led by the SAR chief executive as a great success, saying it has led to significant collaboration opportunities with the two countries. During the visit to Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, the 70-strong delegation reached 96 cooperation agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoUs) involving more than US$1.65 billion in total. Speaking on an RTHK radio programme on Monday, Yau, who was in the delegation, said the two countries are actively seeking economic diversification. "They are very proactive and hope to explore opportunities for collaboration with the SAR government, particularly in finance, trade, infrastructure, innovation and technology, green development and tourism," he said. "They are developing very well in many aspects. There are plenty of cooperation opportunities with us." Yau said the volume of SAR trade with Central Asia is currently not very large as the city's focus used to be more on Europe, the United States and Asean. But its trade with Central Asia is on the rise, he said, noting that total merchandise trade stood at HK$2.53 billion last year – a rise of 27 percent compared with 2020. Yau said the two countries and Hong Kong have launched discussions on a comprehensive avoidance of double taxation agreement and agreed to push ahead with discussions on an investment promotion and protection agreement. The move will step up investors' confidence and further strengthen trade ties between Hong Kong and the two countries, he said. With the city poised to initiate direct flights to Almaty in Kazakhstan next year, Yau said he believes they would make business travel much more convenient. Wingco Lo, president of the Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong, who was also part of the delegation, said markets in Central Asia were not just interested in traditional trading opportunities in Hong Kong. They placed more emphasis on the SAR's role as an international financial centre and a platform of professional services. The association signed two MoUs during the visit, Lo added, and would arrange a trip to Central Asia again this year to allow members to find out which sectors and industries they need to gain a deeper understanding of and discuss collaboration details. Edited by Tony Sabine
Doosan Group said Monday it would deepen ties with US chip giant Nvidia in physical AI-driven robotics and AI factories, expanding their partnership beyond collaborative robots to build a broader AI value chain. Based on the partnership, Doosan will combine its manufacturing expertise in robotics, energy solutions and advanced materials for AI semiconductors with Nvidia’s accelerated computing and Physical AI platforms to explore new business opportunities. One of the expected synergies is Doosa
[SAnews.gov.za] Government is set to intensify enforcement against employers who hire undocumented foreign nationals, as part of a broader effort to protect labour standards, promote fair competition and create opportunities for South Africans.
Lenskart Solutions' shares fell more than 2% to Rs 497 on the BSE on Monday after JPMorgan Chase's offshore subsidiary Copthall Mauritius Investment sold a stake in the company through a Rs 96 crore block deal. Stock exchange data showed that Hong Kong-based hedge fund Viridian Asia Opportunities Master Fund bought 18.96 lakh shares of the company. Viridian bought Lenskart shares at an average price of Rs 508.55 apiece, taking the value of the total stake purchase to more than Rs 96 crore, according to NSE data. The seller of these shares was JPMorgan Chase’s offshore subsidiary Copthall Mauritius Investment Limited. The transaction was executed on Friday at an average price of Rs 508.55 apiece, which is slightly higher than Friday’s closing price of Rs 506.45 apiece on NSE.Lenskart has seen multiple block deals recently. Last week, SoftBank affiliate SVF II Lightbulb (Cayman) pared its stake in the eyewear retailer by selling 5.65 crore shares at Rs 508.55 apiece. Several global and domestic institutional investors picked up shares. The buyers included funds managed by Goldman Sachs and Fidelity, alongside domestic institutions such as ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund, Kotak Mutual Fund, Mirae Asset Mutual Fund, Quant Mutual Fund, HDFC Life Insurance, and ICICI Prudential Life Insurance. The deal, valued at approximately Rs 2,873 crore, also attracted participation from several overseas pension and investment funds.Lenskart share priceLenskart Solutions shares made a subdued market debut in November last year, listing at Rs 395 apiece on NSE at a discount to the IPO price of Rs 402. The shares of the company then surged more than 41% to hit a record high of Rs 557.65 apiece in April this year.The stock is currently down over 9% from that level. However, it is up over 28% from its listing price and 26% from its IPO price. The shares of the company have fallen 2.5% in one week, but gained 15% in 2026 so far. The company currently has a market capitalisation of nearly Rs 88,000 crore.Brokerages on Lenskart share priceJefferies has a ‘Buy’ call on the shares of Lenskart, with a target price of Rs 600 apiece in its base case scenario. Goldman Sachs, meanwhile, has a ‘Buy’ rating on the shares of Lenskart, with a target price of Rs 625 apiece.Morgan Stanley, on the other hand, is ‘Overweight’ on the shares of Lenskart, with a target price of Rs 576 apiece. Elara Capital recently initiated coverage on the shares of Lenskart with a target price of Rs 615 apiece, highlighting that an integrated ecosystem and tech agility fortify the eyewear retailer’s edge amid low competition, vast opportunity, and superior store economics.Lenskart earnings snapshotLenskart in May reported a nearly 46% YoY surge in revenue from operations to Rs 2,516 crore for the January-March quarter of FY26, from Rs 1,727 crore in the year-ago period, leading to bullish brokerage calls and target price hikes.While the company reported a strong surge in revenue, its net profit declined 9% YoY to Rs 200 crore during the quarter under review, from Rs 219 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous financial year.For the entire financial year which ended on March 31, 2026, Lenskart reported a 32% YoY rise in revenue to Rs 9,002 crore. EBITDA climbed 55.3% YoY to Rs 1,789 crore, while adjusted PAT surged 148% YoY to Rs 530 crore.Sensex, Nifty today: Catch all the LIVE stock market action here (Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)
[Leadership] The recently concluded Africa Forward Summit held between 11th and 12th of May, 2026 in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital co-chaired by France and Kenya, has opened a vista of opportunities to ramp up investments in critical sectors for Africa and France, especially in food security.
Police have warned that illegal gambling activities are expected to rise during the upcoming World Cup and urged the public to avoid unlawful betting. Speaking at a press briefing, senior inspector Jimmy Ng said the force had made a large number of arrests during major football tournaments in the past, with 1,104 arrests seen during the 2022 World Cup and 735 arrests made during Euro 2024. He said this showed illegal gambling activities tend to go up during major sporting events. Ng also noted that officers cracked 374 serious gambling cases in 2025, with 4,482 arrests made, and more than HK$3 million in cash and crime proceeds seized. Betting records seized during the year amounted to HK$1.1 billion. Chief inspector Alvin Wong said illegal gambling has become increasingly digitalised, with some betting platforms using non-local servers and accepting transfers through online banking or virtual currency to reduce the chance of detection. Wong warned that illegal betting can lead to debt, addiction, money laundering and exploitation by criminal groups. He added that police would step up publicity, education and enforcement to target illegal gambling during the football tournament. Police clinical psychologist Woo Chin-pang said more young people are exposed to illegal gambling through advertisements on social media platforms, where betting offers, bonuses and easy access can normalise such activities and make them look more attractive. "Illegal gambling creates the opportunities for the youth to come in contact with loan sharks, triads, and other criminal syndicates that can severely impact their lifelong prospects," he said. "So I would like to take this opportunity to emphasise again that, especially for youth, please stay away from gambling, especially the illegal gambling during the World Cup Fifa period." Edited by Aaron Tam
Unofficial and preliminary results of elections for the 24 seats of the Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly show that the PPP is leading the race with success in 10 constituencies. According to the unofficial results, second in the race is PML-N with six seats, while independent candidates, including two PTI-backed ones, emerged victorious in seven constituencies. Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen was able to win just one seat, the results showed. Polling for the 24 seats had concluded peacefully on Sunday evening amid tight security arrangements. Unofficial Provisional Results Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly Elections 24 seats · Results as reported PPP 10 PML-N 6 Independent 5 PTI-backed Ind. 2 MWM 1 SeatDistrictWinner GBA-1GilgitPPP GBA-2GilgitPML-N GBA-3GilgitPTI-backed Ind. GBA-4NagarPPP GBA-5NagarPPP GBA-6HunzaPTI-backed Ind. GBA-7SkarduPPP GBA-8SkarduMWM GBA-9SkarduPPP GBA-10RounduPPP GBA-11KharmangPPP GBA-12ShigarPPP GBA-13AstorePML-N GBA-14AstorePML-N GBA-15DiamerIndependent GBA-16DiamerIndependent GBA-17DarelPPP GBA-18TangirPML-N GBA-19GhizerPPP GBA-20GhizerPML-N GBA-21YasinIndependent GBA-22GhanchePML-N GBA-23GhancheIndependent GBA-24GhancheIndependent * Unofficial provisional results. PTI-backed candidates ran as independents. The Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly has a total of 33 seats — 24 of which are contested through direct elections, six are reserved for women, and three are reserved for technocrats and professionals. Political parties can nominate candidates for the reserved seats through proportional representation. The general elections for GB took place after a four-month delay, which was attributed to harsh winter weather. A total of 396 candidates contested the elections, with 266 running as independents. Only eight women contested the elections, five of them as independent candidates. The total number of registered voters in the region’s 10 districts was 963,034, including 566,097 male and 396,937 female voters. PPP’s allegations The voting process remained largely peaceful throughout the region. However, as the voting closed, PPP Secretary General Nayyar Hussain Bukhari alleged delays in the provision of Form-45. A Form-45 is the result of the vote count prepared by a presiding officer (PO) at each polling station. “We have contacted the chief election commissioner and informed him about the matter,” Bukhari said in a statement. Separately, PPP spokesperson Shazia Marri said in a statement that the “delay in the issuance of Form-45 was unacceptable”. She also alleged that voter lists were altered before the election and polling stations were changed, saying that these actions indicated rigging. PPP alleged earlier that the Balachi polling station in Astore-II’s Bunji area was relocated from the roadside to the top of a hill overnight while the voting was underway. In a post on X, the party noted that the polling station had 206 registered voters, asserting that the “local population is known for its strong support” of the PPP. “This decision appears to be an attempt to affect the PPP’s vote bank and discourage voters from participating in the polling process,” it alleged. The party added that residents blocked the Gilgit-Skardu Road in protest of this action. In her statement, Marri said the PPP would not let an attempt to steal the public’s mandate succeed. She demanded that the Election Commission fulfill its constitutional responsibility and issue correct results. Meanwhile, PPP’s Nadeem Afzal accused the federal government of “electoral engineering”, alleging that two federal ministers present in GB were pressuring the administration and state machinery to influence results. “The presence of Amir Muqam and Aleem Khan in GB and their activities go against the requirements of a fair election,” he added. “There are also reports that presiding officers are being pressurised not to issue Form-45, which raises a question on the election’s transparency,” Chan said in a statement. PPP Secretary General also made these allegations in a video statement. PTI claims lead in polls, alleges rigging Similarly, the PTI claimed in a statement that its candidates were leading, according to initial and unofficial results. “PTI candidates were clearly leading until 7pm. However, immediately afterwards, results from certain polling stations began to emerge with suspiciously high turnouts exceeding 80 per cent and individual ballot boxes having 700-800 votes. These figures raise serious doubts and suspicions,” the party said. It further said, “This is a blot on the entire electoral process and its transparency.” The PTI also alleged that its polling agents were not being issued Form-46, terming it a “clear violation of election laws that has further intensified fears of result manipulation”. It said reports had emerged of members of other parties being caught red-handed with fake ballot papers in multiple areas, including Nagar. “This rigging is part of a well-planned and systematic conspiracy,” the party has claimed. It alleged that before polling, voter lists were tampered with in specific constituencies, police and administration were used to change delimitation and polling schemes, and opposition candidates and workers were “systematically harassed and pressurised”. The PTI warned that any attempt to manipulate the results would have serious consequences. “PTI will employ every constitutional, legal, and democratic avenue to protect the votes of its supporters. We demand that authentic results from all polling stations be released immediately, Form-45 and Form-46 be provided to every candidate without delay, a swift inquiry be conducted into suspicious polling stations with strict action against those responsible, and the Election Commission fulfil its constitutional duty by ensuring complete transparency,” the party stated. Polling As polling began, GB Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Raja Shahbaz Khan visited various polling stations across Gilgit city to review the process, security arrangements and the overall electoral environment. He also inspected the facilities and arrangements provided to voters at the polling stations and met polling agents representing different candidates. Speaking to PTV News, Khan noted that he had visited around 10 polling stations, where security arrangements were satisfactory. He said women were turning out in large numbers to cast ballots, which reflected strong public awareness about the importance of exercising their democratic right. He added that all political parties were participating peacefully in the electoral process. GB caretaker Interior Minister Sajid Ali Baig said he visited various polling stations, where the overall environment remained peaceful. According to APP, he told a local media outlet that there were public demands for further deployment of police forces in some areas for smooth and secure polling. The minister said minor irregularities observed at certain locations were being addressed promptly by the authorities concerned. Who were in the race? PPP fielded 23 candidates, PML-N 22, Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party (IPP) 15, PML-Q 11, Tehreek-i-Islami Pakistan 10, Pakistan Nazriyati Party (PNP) also 10, while nine candidates from the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) also contested the elections. Meanwhile, the PTI, which won the 2020 elections, remained without an electoral symbol since Jan 13, 2024 and therefore, its candidates were contesting as independents. In line with its strategy for the national 2024 elections, it allied with the Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen (MWM). A social media post by the party showed their alliance has 22 candidates combined, with MWM nominees bearing the “tent” symbol. MWM had three candidates in the running, and one candidate from the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) also contested the election. Six candidates each from Jamaat-i-Islami and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM-P) also contested the elections, along with four candidates from Awami Workers Party (AWP) and one nominee from Awami National Party (ANP). PPP, IPP, and PNP nominated one woman each. The main contenders for the winning candidate were Advocate Amjad Hussain from the PPP and former chief minister Hafiz Hafeezur Rehman from the PML-N. Hussain, president of the PPP’s GB chapter, has served as a member of the GB assembly from 2020 to 2025 and as a member of the GB council from 2009 to 2014. He is contesting from GBA-1 (Gilgit-I). Rehman, currently the president of the PML-N’s GB chapter, served as the chief minister from 2015 to 2020. He also served as an assembly member from 2004 to 2009. The former CM is contesting the polls from GBA-2 (Gilgit-II). This photo combo shows PML-N’s Hafiz Hafeezur Rehman (L) and Advocate Amjad Hussain (R). — X/@CMGBPK / Facebook/@AdvocateAmjad GB top court orders ‘fair’ elections after KP CM’s letter Separately, the GB Supreme Appellate Court directed the election commission to hold elections in a free and fair manner after Khyber Pakhtunkhwa CM Sohail Afridi wrote to Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Shamim Khan. A press release by the appellate court recalled that CM Afridi had written a letter to the chief justice, in which he requested equal opportunities for all political parties in the elections. Subsequently, the statement said, Justice Khan issued a written order to the GB CEC, directing him to conduct the general elections in a “transparent, impartial and fair manner”. In his response, the CEC assured the chief justice that the electoral process would be carried out under “a transparent, impartial and organised system”. “In his detailed letter, he has also informed the esteemed court in detail about the steps taken by the election commission to ensure the transparency and impartiality of the elections,” the court’s statement said. The appellate court affirmed that it was striving to ensure the provision of justice to the people. PPP pledges rights; PML-N vows projects In a video statement issued early in the morning, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari urged the public across GB to turn up in large numbers and cast their vote on the party’s “arrow” symbol. “I want to get the people of Gilgit-Baltistan haq-i-hakmiyat (right to govern). I want to get Gilgit-Baltistan constitutional rights. Come, make PPP win so we can make GB the fifth province,” Bilawal said. He further promised to provide “haq-i-rozgar (right to employment)” to the youth of GB if his party got elected. “From the riverside to the peak of the mountains, I want to make you the owner of your land,” the PPP chairman said, adding that a vast area of land had been turned into “common land from state land”. In his video statement, PML-N’s Rehman noted that his party held over 200 corner meetings, more than 40 jalsas and 11 rallies during the election campaign. He apologised to PML-N supporters for not being able to visit various areas he wanted to due to party duties. “I hope that your vote will be in support of progress, peace, development that has been paused since 2020, [and] for the eradication of load-shedding,” the former CM remarked. Rehman emphasised his party’s pledge to work on development projects, construction of roads and metro buses, and better governance. Tight security As part of security arrangements, 6,000 Punjab police personnel and 2,000 from Islamabad police — including 150 personnel from its security division — have been assigned for election duty in the mountainous region. According to a list issued by the GB Election Commission, a total of 1,391 polling stations have been established across the region, of which 488 are categorised as normal, 349 as sensitive and 551 as highly sensitive. Diamer, with 119 highly sensitive polling stations out of a total of 174, has the highest number of such stations among all districts. Additional security personnel will be deployed at vulnerable locations, while law enforcement agencies and the district administration will remain on high alert throughout the election process. On Saturday, the GB CEC urged voters to exercise their democratic right and play a constructive role in maintaining law and order. He asserted that all necessary arrangements had been put in place to ensure peaceful, free, fair and transparent elections across the region. CEC Khan had delegated powers of a first-class magistrate to all district returning officers (DROs) and returning officers (ROs) for the peaceful and transparent conduct of the elections. The election campaign The last elections — held on Nov 15, 2020 — had been won by the PTI, which was also in power in the Centre at the time. However, its Chief Minister Khalid Khurshid Khan was disqualified for an alleged fake degree in July 2023. Subsequently, a coalition government was formed by members of the PTI, PPP and PML-N with Haji Gulbar Khan — an estranged PTI member — elected by the assembly as the new chief minister. In the run-up to the current polls, the PML-N and the PPP campaigned with full force as their party chiefs toured the region. PML-N President Nawaz Sharif visited Gilgit, while Bilawal gave fiery speeches at rallies in various districts. However, the PTI decried a “lack of level playing field” in the current elections after its key leaders were expelled from GB on separate occasions. The party has also alleged other tactics to deter its election campaign activities. Meanwhile, the PPP raised concerns over the deployment of Punjab police personnel and the participation of federal ministers in the PML-N’s campaign. Additional input from APP and Ikram Junaidi
Unofficial results of elections for the 24 seats of the Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly show that the PPP is leading the race with success in 10 constituencies. According to the unofficial results, second in the race is PML-N with six seats, while independent candidates, including two PTI-backed ones, emerged victorious in seven constituencies. Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen was able to win just one seat, the results showed. Polling for the 24 seats had concluded peacefully on Sunday evening amid tight security arrangements. Unofficial Provisional Results Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly Elections 24 seats · Results as reported PPP 10 PML-N 6 Independent 5 PTI-backed Ind. 2 MWM 1 SeatDistrictWinner GBA-1GilgitPPP GBA-2GilgitPML-N GBA-3GilgitPTI-backed Ind. GBA-4NagarPPP GBA-5NagarPPP GBA-6HunzaPTI-backed Ind. GBA-7SkarduPPP GBA-8SkarduMWM GBA-9SkarduPPP GBA-10RounduPPP GBA-11KharmangPPP GBA-12ShigarPPP GBA-13AstorePML-N GBA-14AstorePML-N GBA-15DiamerIndependent GBA-16DiamerIndependent GBA-17DarelPPP GBA-18TangirPML-N GBA-19GhizerPPP GBA-20GhizerPML-N GBA-21YasinIndependent GBA-22GhanchePML-N GBA-23GhancheIndependent GBA-24GhancheIndependent * Unofficial provisional results. PTI-backed candidates ran as independents. The Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly has a total of 33 seats — 24 of which are contested through direct elections, six are reserved for women, and three are reserved for technocrats and professionals. Political parties can nominate candidates for the reserved seats through proportional representation. The general elections for GB took place after a four-month delay, which was attributed to harsh winter weather. A total of 396 candidates contested the elections, with 266 running as independents. Only eight women contested the elections, five of them as independent candidates. The total number of registered voters in the region’s 10 districts was 963,034, including 566,097 male and 396,937 female voters. PPP’s allegations The voting process remained largely peaceful throughout the region. However, as the voting closed, PPP Secretary General Nayyar Hussain Bukhari alleged delays in the provision of Form-45. A Form-45 is the result of the vote count prepared by a presiding officer (PO) at each polling station. “We have contacted the chief election commissioner and informed him about the matter,” Bukhari said in a statement. Separately, PPP spokesperson Shazia Marri said in a statement that the “delay in the issuance of Form-45 was unacceptable”. She also alleged that voter lists were altered before the election and polling stations were changed, saying that these actions indicated rigging. PPP alleged earlier that the Balachi polling station in Astore-II’s Bunji area was relocated from the roadside to the top of a hill overnight while the voting was underway. In a post on X, the party noted that the polling station had 206 registered voters, asserting that the “local population is known for its strong support” of the PPP. “This decision appears to be an attempt to affect the PPP’s vote bank and discourage voters from participating in the polling process,” it alleged. The party added that residents blocked the Gilgit-Skardu Road in protest of this action. In her statement, Marri said the PPP would not let an attempt to steal the public’s mandate succeed. She demanded that the Election Commission fulfill its constitutional responsibility and issue correct results. Meanwhile, PPP’s Nadeem Afzal accused the federal government of “electoral engineering”, alleging that two federal ministers present in GB were pressuring the administration and state machinery to influence results. “The presence of Amir Muqam and Aleem Khan in GB and their activities go against the requirements of a fair election,” he added. “There are also reports that presiding officers are being pressurised not to issue Form-45, which raises a question on the election’s transparency,” Chan said in a statement. PPP Secretary General also made these allegations in a video statement. PTI claims lead in polls, alleges rigging Similarly, the PTI claimed in a statement that its candidates were leading, according to initial and unofficial results. “PTI candidates were clearly leading until 7pm. However, immediately afterwards, results from certain polling stations began to emerge with suspiciously high turnouts exceeding 80 per cent and individual ballot boxes having 700-800 votes. These figures raise serious doubts and suspicions,” the party said. It further said, “This is a blot on the entire electoral process and its transparency.” The PTI also alleged that its polling agents were not being issued Form-46, terming it a “clear violation of election laws that has further intensified fears of result manipulation”. It said reports had emerged of members of other parties being caught red-handed with fake ballot papers in multiple areas, including Nagar. “This rigging is part of a well-planned and systematic conspiracy,” the party has claimed. It alleged that before polling, voter lists were tampered with in specific constituencies, police and administration were used to change delimitation and polling schemes, and opposition candidates and workers were “systematically harassed and pressurised”. The PTI warned that any attempt to manipulate the results would have serious consequences. “PTI will employ every constitutional, legal, and democratic avenue to protect the votes of its supporters. We demand that authentic results from all polling stations be released immediately, Form-45 and Form-46 be provided to every candidate without delay, a swift inquiry be conducted into suspicious polling stations with strict action against those responsible, and the Election Commission fulfil its constitutional duty by ensuring complete transparency,” the party stated. Polling As polling began, GB Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Raja Shahbaz Khan visited various polling stations across Gilgit city to review the process, security arrangements and the overall electoral environment. He also inspected the facilities and arrangements provided to voters at the polling stations and met polling agents representing different candidates. Speaking to PTV News, Khan noted that he had visited around 10 polling stations, where security arrangements were satisfactory. He said women were turning out in large numbers to cast ballots, which reflected strong public awareness about the importance of exercising their democratic right. He added that all political parties were participating peacefully in the electoral process. GB caretaker Interior Minister Sajid Ali Baig said he visited various polling stations, where the overall environment remained peaceful. According to APP, he told a local media outlet that there were public demands for further deployment of police forces in some areas for smooth and secure polling. The minister said minor irregularities observed at certain locations were being addressed promptly by the authorities concerned. Who were in the race? PPP fielded 23 candidates, PML-N 22, Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party (IPP) 15, PML-Q 11, Tehreek-i-Islami Pakistan 10, Pakistan Nazriyati Party (PNP) also 10, while nine candidates from the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) also contested the elections. Meanwhile, the PTI, which won the 2020 elections, remained without an electoral symbol since Jan 13, 2024 and therefore, its candidates were contesting as independents. In line with its strategy for the national 2024 elections, it allied with the Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen (MWM). A social media post by the party showed their alliance has 22 candidates combined, with MWM nominees bearing the “tent” symbol. MWM had three candidates in the running, and one candidate from the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) also contested the election. Six candidates each from Jamaat-i-Islami and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM-P) also contested the elections, along with four candidates from Awami Workers Party (AWP) and one nominee from Awami National Party (ANP). PPP, IPP, and PNP nominated one woman each. The main contenders for the winning candidate were Advocate Amjad Hussain from the PPP and former chief minister Hafiz Hafeezur Rehman from the PML-N. Hussain, president of the PPP’s GB chapter, has served as a member of the GB assembly from 2020 to 2025 and as a member of the GB council from 2009 to 2014. He is contesting from GBA-1 (Gilgit-I). Rehman, currently the president of the PML-N’s GB chapter, served as the chief minister from 2015 to 2020. He also served as an assembly member from 2004 to 2009. The former CM is contesting the polls from GBA-2 (Gilgit-II). This photo combo shows PML-N’s Hafiz Hafeezur Rehman (L) and Advocate Amjad Hussain (R). — X/@CMGBPK / Facebook/@AdvocateAmjad GB top court orders ‘fair’ elections after KP CM’s letter Separately, the GB Supreme Appellate Court directed the election commission to hold elections in a free and fair manner after Khyber Pakhtunkhwa CM Sohail Afridi wrote to Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Shamim Khan. A press release by the appellate court recalled that CM Afridi had written a letter to the chief justice, in which he requested equal opportunities for all political parties in the elections. Subsequently, the statement said, Justice Khan issued a written order to the GB CEC, directing him to conduct the general elections in a “transparent, impartial and fair manner”. In his response, the CEC assured the chief justice that the electoral process would be carried out under “a transparent, impartial and organised system”. “In his detailed letter, he has also informed the esteemed court in detail about the steps taken by the election commission to ensure the transparency and impartiality of the elections,” the court’s statement said. The appellate court affirmed that it was striving to ensure the provision of justice to the people. PPP pledges rights; PML-N vows projects In a video statement issued early in the morning, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari urged the public across GB to turn up in large numbers and cast their vote on the party’s “arrow” symbol. “I want to get the people of Gilgit-Baltistan haq-i-hakmiyat (right to govern). I want to get Gilgit-Baltistan constitutional rights. Come, make PPP win so we can make GB the fifth province,” Bilawal said. He further promised to provide “haq-i-rozgar (right to employment)” to the youth of GB if his party got elected. “From the riverside to the peak of the mountains, I want to make you the owner of your land,” the PPP chairman said, adding that a vast area of land had been turned into “common land from state land”. In his video statement, PML-N’s Rehman noted that his party held over 200 corner meetings, more than 40 jalsas and 11 rallies during the election campaign. He apologised to PML-N supporters for not being able to visit various areas he wanted to due to party duties. “I hope that your vote will be in support of progress, peace, development that has been paused since 2020, [and] for the eradication of load-shedding,” the former CM remarked. Rehman emphasised his party’s pledge to work on development projects, construction of roads and metro buses, and better governance. Tight security As part of security arrangements, 6,000 Punjab police personnel and 2,000 from Islamabad police — including 150 personnel from its security division — have been assigned for election duty in the mountainous region. According to a list issued by the GB Election Commission, a total of 1,391 polling stations have been established across the region, of which 488 are categorised as normal, 349 as sensitive and 551 as highly sensitive. Diamer, with 119 highly sensitive polling stations out of a total of 174, has the highest number of such stations among all districts. Additional security personnel will be deployed at vulnerable locations, while law enforcement agencies and the district administration will remain on high alert throughout the election process. On Saturday, the GB CEC urged voters to exercise their democratic right and play a constructive role in maintaining law and order. He asserted that all necessary arrangements had been put in place to ensure peaceful, free, fair and transparent elections across the region. CEC Khan had delegated powers of a first-class magistrate to all district returning officers (DROs) and returning officers (ROs) for the peaceful and transparent conduct of the elections. The election campaign The last elections — held on Nov 15, 2020 — had been won by the PTI, which was also in power in the Centre at the time. However, its Chief Minister Khalid Khurshid Khan was disqualified for an alleged fake degree in July 2023. Subsequently, a coalition government was formed by members of the PTI, PPP and PML-N with Haji Gulbar Khan — an estranged PTI member — elected by the assembly as the new chief minister. In the run-up to the current polls, the PML-N and the PPP campaigned with full force as their party chiefs toured the region. PML-N President Nawaz Sharif visited Gilgit, while Bilawal gave fiery speeches at rallies in various districts. However, the PTI decried a “lack of level playing field” in the current elections after its key leaders were expelled from GB on separate occasions. The party has also alleged other tactics to deter its election campaign activities. Meanwhile, the PPP raised concerns over the deployment of Punjab police personnel and the participation of federal ministers in the PML-N’s campaign. Additional input from APP and Ikram Junaidi
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Polling for 24 seats of the Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly concluded peacefully on Sunday amid tight security arrangements. The general elections for GB took place after a four-month delay, which was attributed to harsh winter weather. The voting process in the region began at 8am on Sunday and concluded at 5pm. What we know so far: PPP’s Amjad Hussain and PML-N’s Hafeezur Rehman main contenders for CM role PPP alleges Form-45 not being issued PTI, lacking electoral symbol, allies with MWM; IPP, PML-Q, JUI-F also in race GB top court writes to CEC for ‘fair’ elections after KP CM’s letter PPP pledges constitutional rights; PML-N vows development projects The Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly has a total of 33 seats — 24 of which are contested through direct elections, six are reserved for women, and three are reserved for technocrats and professionals. Political parties can nominate candidates for the reserved seats through proportional representation. A total of 396 candidates contested the elections, with 266 running as independents. Only eight women contested the elections, five of them as independent candidates. The total number of registered voters in the region’s 10 districts was 963,034, including 566,097 male and 396,937 female voters. PPP’s allegations The voting process remained largely peaceful throughout the region, with no violence being reported. However, as the voting closed, PPP Secretary General Nayyar Hussain Bukhari alleged that the party was not being provided with Form-45. A Form-45 is the result of the vote count prepared by a presiding officer (PO) at each polling station. We have contacted the chief election commissioner and informed him about the matter, Bukhari said in a statement. Separately, PPP spokesperson Shazia Marri said in a statement that the “delay in the issuance of Form-45 was unacceptable”. She also alleged that voter lists were altered before the election and polling stations were changed, saying that these action indicated rigging. PPP alleged earlier that the Balachi polling station in Astore-II’s Bunji area was relocated from the roadside to the top of a hill overnight while the voting was underway. In a post on X, the party noted that the polling station had 206 registered voters, asserting that the “local population is known for its strong support” of the PPP. “This decision appears to be an attempt to affect the PPP’s vote bank and discourage voters from participating in the polling process,” it alleged. The party added that residents blocked the Gilgit-Skardu Road in protest of this action. In her statement, Marri said the PPP would not let an attempt to steal the public’s mandate succeed. She demanded that the Election Commission fulfill its constitutional responsibility and issue correct results. Meanwhile, PPP’s Nadeem Afzal accused the federal government of “electoral engineering”, alleging that two federal ministers present in GB were pressuring the administration and state machinery to influence results. “The presence of Amir Muqam and Aleem Khan in GB and their activities go against the requirements of a fair election,” he added. “There are also reports that presiding officers are being pressurised not to issue Form-45, which raises a question on the election’s transparency,” Chan said in a statement. PPP Secretary General also made these allegations in a video statement. Earlier, the PML-N shared videos of its supporters gathering at its election camps in Skardu and Gilgit. The party also shared videos on X of the PPP and IPP’s election camps, claiming they were “deserted”. The PTI shared a video of people outside a Gilgit polling station voicing support for the party. As polling began, GB Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Raja Shahbaz Khan visited various polling stations across Gilgit city to review the process, security arrangements and the overall electoral environment. He also inspected the facilities and arrangements provided to voters at the polling stations and met polling agents representing different candidates. Speaking to PTV News, Khan noted that he had visited around 10 polling stations, where security arrangements were satisfactory. He said women were turning out in large numbers to cast ballots, which reflected strong public awareness about the importance of exercising their democratic right. He added that all political parties were participating peacefully in the electoral process. GB caretaker Interior Minister Sajid Ali Baig said he visited various polling stations, where the overall environment remained peaceful. According to APP, he told a local media outlet that there were public demands for further deployment of police forces in some areas for smooth and secure polling. The minister said minor irregularities observed at certain locations were being addressed promptly by the authorities concerned. Who’s contesting? PPP has 23 candidates, PML-N has 22, Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party (IPP) has 15, PML-Q has 11, Tehreek-i-Islami Pakistan has 10, Pakistan Nazriyati Party (PNP) also has 10, while nine candidates from the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) are contesting the elections. Meanwhile, the PTI, which won the 2020 elections, remains without an electoral symbol since Jan 13, 2024 and therefore, its candidates are contesting as independents. In line with its strategy for the national 2024 elections, it has allied with the Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen (MWM). A social media post by the party shows their alliance has 22 candidates combined, with MWM nominees bearing the “tent” symbol. MWM has three candidates in the running, and one candidate from the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) will also contest the election. Six candidates each from Jamaat-i-Islami and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM-P) will also contest the elections, along with four candidates from Awami Workers Party (AWP) and one nominee from Awami National Party (ANP). PPP, IPP, and PNP have nominated one woman each. The main contenders for the winning candidate were Advocate Amjad Hussain from the PPP and former chief minister Hafiz Hafeezur Rehman from the PML-N. Hussain, president of the PPP’s GB chapter, has served as a member of the GB assembly from 2020 to 2025 and as a member of the GB council from 2009 to 2014. He is contesting from GBA-1 (Gilgit-I). Rehman, currently the president of the PML-N’s GB chapter, served as the chief minister from 2015 to 2020. He also served as an assembly member from 2004 to 2009. The former CM is contesting the polls from GBA-2 (Gilgit-II). This photo combo shows PML-N’s Hafiz Hafeezur Rehman (L) and Advocate Amjad Hussain (R). — X/@CMGBPK / Facebook/@AdvocateAmjad GB top court orders ‘fair’ elections after KP CM’s letter Separately, the GB Supreme Appellate Court directed the election commission to hold elections in a free and fair manner after Khyber Pakhtunkhwa CM Sohail Afridi wrote to Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Shamim Khan. A press release by the appellate court recalled that CM Afridi had written a letter to the chief justice, in which he requested equal opportunities for all political parties in the elections. Subsequently, the statement said, Justice Khan issued a written order to the GB CEC, directing him to conduct the general elections in a “transparent, impartial and fair manner”. In his response, the CEC assured the chief justice that the electoral process would be carried out under “a transparent, impartial and organised system”. “In his detailed letter, he has also informed the esteemed court in detail about the steps taken by the election commission to ensure the transparency and impartiality of the elections,” the court’s statement said. The appellate court affirmed that it was striving to ensure the provision of justice to the people. PPP pledges rights; PML-N vows projects In a video statement issued early in the morning, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari urged the public across GB to turn up in large numbers and cast their vote on the party’s “arrow” symbol. “I want to get the people of Gilgit-Baltistan haq-i-hakmiyat (right to govern). I want to get Gilgit-Baltistan constitutional rights. Come, make PPP win so we can make GB the fifth province,” Bilawal said. He further promised to provide “haq-i-rozgar (right to employment)” to the youth of GB if his party got elected. “From the riverside to the peak of the mountains, I want to make you the owner of your land,” the PPP chairman said, adding that a vast area of land had been turned into “common land from state land”. In his video statement, PML-N’s Rehman noted that his party held over 200 corner meetings, more than 40 jalsas and 11 rallies during the election campaign. He apologised to PML-N supporters for not being able to visit various areas he wanted to due to party duties. “I hope that your vote will be in support of progress, peace, development that has been paused since 2020, [and] for the eradication of load-shedding,” the former CM remarked. Rehman emphasised his party’s pledge to work on development projects, construction of roads and metro buses, and better governance. Tight security As part of security arrangements, 6,000 Punjab police personnel and 2,000 from Islamabad police — including 150 personnel from its security division — have been assigned for election duty in the mountainous region. According to a list issued by the GB Election Commission, a total of 1,391 polling stations have been established across the region, of which 488 are categorised as normal, 349 as sensitive and 551 as highly sensitive. Diamer, with 119 highly sensitive polling stations out of a total of 174, has the highest number of such stations among all districts. Additional security personnel will be deployed at vulnerable locations, while law enforcement agencies and the district administration will remain on high alert throughout the election process. On Saturday, the GB CEC urged voters to exercise their democratic right and play a constructive role in maintaining law and order. He asserted that all necessary arrangements had been put in place to ensure peaceful, free, fair and transparent elections across the region. CEC Khan had delegated powers of a first-class magistrate to all district returning officers (DROs) and returning officers (ROs) for the peaceful and transparent conduct of the elections. The election campaign The last elections — held on Nov 15, 2020 — had been won by the PTI, which was also in power in the Centre at the time. However, its Chief Minister Khalid Khurshid Khan was disqualified for an alleged fake degree in July 2023. Subsequently, a coalition government was formed by members of the PTI, PPP and PML-N with Haji Gulbar Khan — an estranged PTI member — elected by the assembly as the new chief minister. In the run-up to the current polls, the PML-N and the PPP campaigned with full force as their party chiefs toured the region. PML-N President Nawaz Sharif visited Gilgit, while Bilawal gave fiery speeches at rallies in various districts. However, the PTI has decried a “lack of level playing field” in the current elections after its key leaders were expelled from GB on separate occasions. The party has also alleged other tactics to deter its election campaign activities. Meanwhile, the PPP has raised concerns over the deployment of Punjab police personnel and the participation of federal ministers in the PML-N’s campaign. Additional input from APP