Islamabad: The ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) emerged as the big winner in the Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) elections, according to unofficial results reported by Pakistani media today.
PTI was leading in at least 10 of 23 constituencies, followed by independent candidates who have so far won seven seats. Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) managed to win three seats while Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), which emerged victorious in 2015 elections in GB, only won two seats. PTI’s ally Majlis Wahdatul Muslimeen (MWM) bagged one seat.
Official results are yet to be announced but the vote counting began at 5pm on Sunday after which unconfirmed results were shared on media.
Results reported in media:
PTI – 10
PPP – 3
PML-N – 2
MWM – 1
Independent candidate – 7
A large number of people including women and elderly turned up at voting stations despite cold and rainy weather. Heavy snowfall, however, restricted some citizens to their homes in Ghizer, Hunza and Baltistan. There were a total of 745,361 registered voters, including 339,992 women, in the region, which is home to an estimated 1.3 million people, and has one of the highest literacy rates in Pakistan.
Safe and secure polls
Over 13,000 law enforcement officials were deployed across 1,234 polling stations to secure the voting process. Voters were asked to maintain a safe distance of six feet from each other due to coronavirus pandemic.
As many as 330 candidates, including four women, vied for 24 seats in the 2020 Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly elections. Polling in one constituency was postponed. GB assembly has 33 seats including 24 general seats, six reserved for women and three for technocrats. The polls were pending after the assembly completed its five-year tenure in June after which a caretaker government was formed.
The polls were held on Sunday in a peaceful environment and there were no reports of irregularities. However, major opposition parties including PPP, PML-N and Jamiat Ulema-e Islam (F), who managed to get only a few seats, have rejected the claims of transparent election.
PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari claimed that the election was “stolen”. Speaking at a protest in Gilgit city on Monday, Bilawal said that “three seats were clearly snatched from the PPP” and that the party “will continue its protest at every place where rigging has occurred”.
PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz, who emerged as the biggest crowd-puller during pre-election rallies, also alleged the elections were “rigged” and asked party supporters “not to lose courage”.
In response, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Shibli Faraz denied rigging allegations.
Provincial status
During the last few weeks, country’s mainstream political parties actively campaigned to take lead in third elections in Pakistan’s strategically located Gilgit Baltistan region. Recently, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan also visit the region and formally announced the ‘provisional provincial status’ for Gilgit-Baltistan at a public gathering in Gilgit held to mark the 73rd Independence Day of the region.