GBLA-18: By-polls in Diamer to be held today

Seat was left vacant by late forest minister who died in May; candidates from PML-N, JUI-F to compete

GILGIT: A close contest is expected to take place on Tuesday (today) between Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Jamiat Ulema Islam-Fazl candidates who will compete in the by-election in Tangir valley of Diamer in Gilgit-Baltistan.

The by-election for the GBLA-18seat (Diamer-IV) will be held after the death in May of the then forest minister, Haji Muhammad Wakeel.

However, the number of voters registered is not very impressive as women in Tangir are reportedly not allowed to cast their ballots. Tangir valley is one of the most backward areas of G-B. Literacy rate among women is near to zero. Therefore, a woman voting is against local traditions.

The number of registered voters stands at 15,000. These people will cast their votes at 26 polling stations, of which four have been declared highly sensitive. Besides police and other law-enforcing agencies, the army will also be there to keep the law and order situation under control.

“We are hopeful of better results in a peaceful environment,” a candidate from PML-N and the late forest minister’s brother, Imran Wakeel, told the media on Monday. “The people were supporters of my late brother—now they back me.”



PML-N has chosen Imran as their candidate, while JUI-F has backed Gulbar Khan, who served as the health minister in the previous government led by Pakistan Peoples Party.

To retain the seat, PML-N has worked hard in the valley and brought back influential figures, such as Malik Miskeen, who had turned against G-B Chief Minister Hafeezur Rehman.

Miskeen — who served as the speaker of G-B Assembly during Musharraf’s regime — had called the chief minister an “untrustworthy man”. He said so after PML-N did not back him in the G-B Council elections. However, the differences were settled after the chief minister visited Miskeen’s house in the valley to see him.

Opposition’s reservations

JUI-F has raised serious objections over Rehman’s visit to Tangir valley. The party members have said it was an attempt to buy voters. “The chief minister appointed more than 40 people in the government service at a time when polling was around the corner,” opposition leader Shah Baig had said while addressing a press conference on Sunday. “Pre-poll rigging has been started under the auspices of the government – it must be stopped.”

Published in The Express Tribune, July 12^th, 2016.