GB election chief settles 14 petitions as Astore, Diamer seats remain undecided

• Maintains Form 47 results; final decisions on two key seats set for tomorrow

• Re-polling suspended across some constituencies

• LG polls postponed to Sept 27 due to Muharram

GILGIT: The Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) on Monday announced decisions on 14 critical election petitions, maintaining the validity of Form 47 results while deferring final verdicts on two highly contested assembly constituencies until June 17.

Addressing a press conference, CEC Raja Shahbaz Khan said that decisions on pending cases from GBA-13 Astore-I and GBA-16 Diamer-II would be announced on June 17, while results in the remaining constituencies would be finalised thereafter.

He added that attempts were made on social and mainstream media platforms to create doubts regarding the GB Assembly elections.

However, he maintained, the Election Commission has conducted all electoral matters in accordance with law and regulations under the Election Act 2017.

According to the Election Commission, the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly elections witnessed a high voter turnout of 70 per cent, which Mr Khan described as a reflection of the public’s deep confidence in the democratic process.

Under the Election Act 2017, official election results must typically be issued within 14 days of polling.

“Due to petitions filed in some constituencies and election disputes, the results were delayed; however, the Election Commission is handling all matters as per legal requirements,” Khan said.

So far, the consolidated final results (Form-49) for 16 out of 24 constituencies have been released. The available seat standings place the PPP in the lead with 10 seats, followed by the PML-N with 5, independent candidates with 4, PTI-backed candidates with 2, and the MWM with 1 seat.

Khan noted that previous orders for re-polling at various polling stations across multiple constituencies, including GBA-8 Skardu-II, GBA-15 Diamer-I, and GBA-17 Diamer-III, alongside the two pending areas, have been suspended.

Tensions continued in GBA-16 Diamer-II as supporters of independent candidate Imam Malik blocked the Karakoram Highway in Chilas, insisting on re-polling at certain stations after the suspension of a prior re-polling decision at three stations.

Supporters alleged the decision was influenced by political pressure. In the same constituency, supporters of PPP candidate Attaullah staged a sit-in outside the district returning officer’s office in Chilas, demanding immediate counting of postal ballots and finalisation of results without re-polling.

The PPP side claimed discrepancies in postal ballot figures and election forms.

They said according to Form 47, independent candidate Im­­am Malik led by 24 votes, while off­icial figures showed differing postal ballot counts. They also claimed that under Form 48, PPP candidate Attaullah was leading by 269 votes.

The election commission initially ordered re-polling at three GBA-16 Diamer-II stations on Imam Malik’s petition, pausing Form 48 issuance. PPP candidate Attaullah contested this, leading the commissioner to reserve a decision for June 17.

Local govt elections delayed

Shifting focus to local governance, Khan announced that the Gilgit-Baltistan local government elections, originally scheduled for Aug 2, have been delayed until Sept 27 following formal requests from religious organisations.

The groups urged the commission not to organise the elections during the holy months of Muharram and Chehlum Imam Hussain.

The deadline for nomination papers is now Aug 10. Final polling for the LG elections, the first in over 20 years, is set to take place across 1,343 wards.

Mr Khan stated that elections will be party-based, with no independents, and that candidates must be at least 25 years old.

Published in Dawn, June 16th, 2026