GB election commission rejects recount, re-polling pleas in key constituencies

The Gilgit-Baltistan Election Commission on Monday announced its decisions on several election petitions, rejecting requests for recounting and re-polling in several constituencies while ordering a ballot paper recount in one seat.

Addressing a press conference, Chief Election Commissioner Raja Shahbaz Khan said the commission had decided multiple petitions filed after the recently held Gilgit-Baltistan elections.

According to the decisions, the commission ruled in favour of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate from Astor Constituency-2 and rejected a request for recounting votes in the constituency.

In Diamer-1, the commission dismissed a petition filed by an independent candidate and ruled that there would be no re-election in the constituency.

Similarly, in Daril, the commission decided in favour of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) candidate Naseem and rejected demands for re-polling.

The commission also ruled in favour of PML-N candidate Malik Kifayat from Tangir, deciding against re-polling in the constituency. However, it ordered a recount of ballot papers in the seat.

Speaking at the press conference, Raja Shahbaz Khan said doubts had been raised about the election process on some social and national media platforms, but maintained that the electoral process had been conducted in accordance with the law.

He said the Election Act required results to be issued within 14 days, adding that delays in announcing some results were due to the filing and processing of election-related applications.

The chief election commissioner said Form-49 from 16 of the 24 constituencies had been received by the commission, while voter turnout in the Gilgit-Baltistan elections remained around 70 percent.

Providing an update on local government elections, Raja Shahbaz Khan said that Monday was the last day to file nomination papers. He added that, in view of Muharram, the scrutiny process had been extended until August 10.

He announced that polling for the local government elections would be held on September 27.

The chief election commissioner said a total of 1,343 wards would be contested in the upcoming local government elections across Gilgit-Baltistan.