ECP directs political parties to end G-B election campaigns by midnight today

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Friday directed all political parties to end their election campaigns in Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) by midnight 12am. 

The chief election commissioner added that legal action would be taken against those political leaders and parties which violate the rules.

“Allegations of fraud and rigging by leaders of the opposition parties were baseless and it was beyond comprehension to make such allegations in advance,” the commissioner stated.

With the election campaign by mainstream political parties in full swing, the region's administration said at least 15,900 law enforcement personnel would be deployed for security purposes. 

Voting would commence in 23 constituencies on November 15. About 1,160 polling stations and 847 polling booths have been set up, of which 418 had been declared highly sensitive, 311 sensitive and 431 normal.

Earlier on November 10, the G-B Supreme Appellate Court suspended a verdict of G-B Chief Court which had ordered Pakistani lawmakers to leave the region within 72 hours, barring them from taking part in the campaign for the November 15 elections.

The Supreme Appellate Court suspended the Chief Court’s orders till November 12 besides issuing notices to the parties to appear in the hearing on the date.

According to the Appellate Court decision, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and other lawmakers were allowed to campaign in G-B for the elections.

A two-member bench issued the ruling on a plea filed by Bilawal seeking suspension of the chief court’s orders.

The G-B Chief Court in its decision on Nov 6 had said the country’s political personalities, other than National and provincial assembly lawmakers and Senate members, could run the campaigns in the region as the elected representatives were ineligible for electioneering and that they were violating the code of conduct.

Besides, it directed the G-B administration and the police to ensure that no elected representative entered the region. The court maintained the orders remain in force till the elections.

The PPP chief had launched his party's G-B election campaign from Ghanche district on October 22 and since then he has been addressing various public gatherings, corner meetings and conventions of party workers while other lawmakers of PTI-led federal government, including Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and G-B Ali Amin Gandapur, were also campaigning in the region.

Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz was also addressing rallies during her election campaign in the region.

Addressing a public gathering in Nagar district of G-B on Monday, Bilawal accused Prime Minister Imran Khan of opposing the provision of provincial status to the region, saying the initiative was not mentioned in the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf manifesto.

“Now they [PTI govt] are considering giving provisional provincial status to G-B at the time of the election,” said the PPP chief in his address.

Bilawal recalled the PTI led federal government did nothing for the region since it came to power in 2018. He referred to a petition filed by the prime minister in the apex court to review its decision of granting G-B a provincial status.

The PPP chief also accused the prime minister of opposing the idea of granting G-B provincial status in a cabinet meeting held in January. In his speech, Bilawal said the issue was a part of the PPP manifesto in 2018 and assured people to fulfil the party’s promise