The Gilgit-Baltistan Election Commission has issued a directive that the results of the June 7 election must not be consolidated until re-polling in five constituencies is completed. In a circular addressed to the returning officers concerned, the G-B Election Commission stated that it had ordered re-polling at certain polling stations in their respective constituencies: Skardu-II (GBA-8), Astore-I (GBA-13), Diamer-I (GBA-15), Diamer-II (GBA-16), and Diamer-III (GBA-17).
Consolidation process halted
The Election Commission observed that the process of consolidation of results under the relevant provisions of the Elections Act, 2017 and Elections Rules, 2017 shall be completed only after inclusion of the results of the repolled polling stations in the constituency-wise result. The commission instructed the returning officers not to open, scrutinise or count the postal ballots and not to finalise, consolidate, announce or issue the final result of their respective constituency until the completion of repolling at the specified polling stations.
Details of re-polling
In a statement, G-B Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Raja Shahbaz Khan said re-polling would be held at 26 polling stations in five constituencies on June 15. According to the CEC, the polling stations included 10 in Skardu-II (GBA-8), one in Astore-I (GBA-13), one in Diamer-I (GBA-15), three in Diamer-II (GBA-16), and 11 in Diamer-III (GBA-17).
Recount ordered in two other constituencies
A day earlier, the G-B Election Commission had ordered a recount in two other constituencies and some polling stations. One recount order came after independent candidate Safdar Ali Shirazi and PPP candidate Nazir Ahmed Advocate formally requested a recount of votes in Ghizer-II (GBA-20), alleging irregularities during the counting process.
