Polling for G-B legislative assembly comes to a close, PML-N in the lead

PML-N secured 11 seats out of the 24 constituencies so far


Shabbir Mir/web Desk June 08, 2015
PHOTO: SHABBIR MIR/ EXPRESS

GILGIT: Polling for the 24 constituencies of Gilgit-Baltistan legislative assembly, ended at 4pm Monday.

Polling in all seven districts began at 8am, and over 600,000 voters were expected to cast their votes as about 272 candidates belonging to different parties contested for the 24 legislative assembly seats.

Read: Polling day: G-B votes today to usher in new legislative representatives   

Army, Rangers, police and G-B scouts were deployed in all the districts to maintain law and order during polling.

At least 6,000 army personnel were also on duty in 1,143 polling stations to supervise the polling process. Similarly, the election commission has deemed 400 polling stations ‘sensitive.’



Read: Security measures: Army to be deployed to supervise G-B elections

According to a notification issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), presiding officers inside polling stations were expected to monitor activities therein whereas army was supposed tio supervise activities outside the stations.

Further, POs were expected to inform army officials about developments inside polling stations.

In the past, there was a tendency for voters to opt for the party which formed government in the Centre. It remains to be seen whether Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz will make a clean sweep as the Pakistan Peoples Party continues to hold substantial ground and other parties are also likely to put up a tough fight. Yet, numerous members of other parties defected to the PML-N in the run up, placing it as a likely contender.

Meanwhile, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar said holding of peaceful elections in the region was evidence of a better strategy and coordination among security institutions.

Unofficial results

According to preliminary unofficial results, 11 candidates of the PML-N were ahead of their rivals from the PPP, PTI and MWM.

Regional PML-N president Hafeezur Rahman, contesting from Gilgit GBLA-II, secured more than 8,000 votes, followed by Jamil Ahmed of the PPP with 5,000 votes.  PTI candidate Fatehullah bagged slightly more than a 1,000 votes, with result of 10 polling stations yet to be received.

In Gilgit GBLA-I, PML-N’s Jafarullah was marginally ahead of PPP’s Amjad Hussain with 32,000 votes. Meanwhile in GBLA-III, the ruling party’s Dr Muhammad Iqbal was ahead of PPP’s Aftab Haider.

In Skardu GBLA-I, a tough competition was witnessed between PML-N’s Akbar Taban and PTI’s Raja Jalal with fFormer chief minister Mehdi Shah trailing in third spot.

In Hunza GBLA-VI, Mir Ghazanfar of the PML- N was ahead of PPP’s Zafar Iqbal and PTI’s Izhar Hunzai.

COMMENTS (3)

Adnan Siddiqi | 8 years ago | Reply When you use women of your household for petty political gains and to sell your expired choorun, this is the sort of results which often transpire. Many congrats to PML-N on such a comprehensive victory.
Ch. Allah Daad | 8 years ago | Reply PML(N) with grace of God has won majority of seats whereas PTI has met historical defeat. Only one seat in entire assembly for PTI.
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