The Election Commission of Gilgit-Baltistan has reserved its ruling on electoral disputes and recount petitions concerning seven constituencies, officials said today.
Chief Election Commissioner Raja Shahbaz concluded hearings on objections to election results and applications seeking vote recounts in the affected constituencies before reserving the judgment, according to election authorities.
The outcome is being closely watched as the commission had withheld results in the seven constituencies following the June 7 elections after preliminary, unofficial results were announced.
According to the unofficial results that remain subject to the commission’s final decision, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate Abdul Jahan was declared victorious in GBA-19 Ghizer II, while Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) candidate Syed Jalal Shah secured the seat in GBA-19 Ghizer I.
In GBA-3 Gilgit III, independent candidate Sohail Abbas emerged as the successful contender, whereas PPP candidate Raja Nasir Ali Khan was reported to have won GBA-10 Skardu IV.
The provisional results further showed independent candidate Muhammad Dilpazeer leading in GBA-15 Diamer I, while PPP candidate Zulfiqar Ali Murad was declared the winner in GBA-5 Nagar I.
The commission’s ruling is expected to determine the final status of the disputed constituencies and could have a significant bearing on the political landscape of Gilgit-Baltistan, where efforts to form the next regional government are under way.
Separately, political developments continued as PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was authorized to make the final decision regarding the formation of the Gilgit-Baltistan government.