The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has taken an early lead in the Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) Assembly elections, based on unofficial and incomplete results. The PPP is ahead on 11 of the 24 seats contested in the polling held on Sunday. The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is following with five seats, while the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is leading in three seats. The Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM), an ally of PTI, is ahead in one seat, and independent candidates are leading in two constituencies.
Key Constituency Results
According to Express News early Monday, PPP candidate Amjad Hussain was leading in GBA-1 Gilgit-I with 1,553 votes after results from 10 of 80 polling stations were counted. MWM's Muhammad Ilyas Siddiqui was in second place with 635 votes. In GBA-2, unofficial results show PML-N candidate Hafeezur Rehman leading, with PPP's Jameel Ahmed in second position.
In GBA-6 Hunza, results from 77 of 88 polling stations indicate a close contest, with PTI-backed independent candidate Nek Naam Karim leading with 5,612 votes. In GBA-7 Skardu-I, where counting has been completed at all 31 polling stations, PPP candidate Syed Tauqeer Mehdi won with 4,295 votes. Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) candidate Raja Jalal was runner-up with 3,849 votes, and PML-N's Haji Akbar Taban came third with 2,667 votes.
Unofficial results from GBA-3 show a PTI-backed independent candidate winning with 7,877 votes. In GBA-4 Nagar-I, PPP's Muhammad Ali Akhtar secured victory with 7,670 votes, defeating IPP candidate Muhammad Ayub, who received 6,491 votes. In GBA-9 Skardu-III, PPP candidate Fida Muhammad Nashad won with 6,314 votes, while IPP candidate Wazir Muhammad Saleem finished second with 6,106 votes.
In GBA-22 Ghanche, PML-N's Ibrahim Sanai won with 9,308 votes. Independent candidates won in GBA-23 Ghanche and GBA-24. In Astore, PML-N candidates Rana Farman Ali and Rana Muhammad Farooq won GBA-13 Astore-I and GBA-14 Astore-II, respectively.
Ongoing Counting and Leading Candidates
Counting continued in several constituencies. In GBA-10 Skardu, PPP candidate Raja Nasir Ali Khan was leading, with MWM's Mushtaq Hussain in second place. In GBA-15 Diamer-I, independent candidate Muhammad Dilpazeer was ahead. In GBA-16 Diamer-II, IPP candidate Atiqullah was leading. In GBA-19 Ghizer-I, independent candidate Nawaz Khan was ahead of PML-N's Zafar Muhammad, while in GBA-20 Ghizer-II, independent candidate Safdar Ali Shirazi led with PML-N's Abdul Jahan in second place.
Peaceful Polling and High Voter Turnout
Polling across G-B was held peacefully on Sunday. Voting began at 8am and continued uninterrupted until 5pm across all districts. Election day proceeded without any major disruption, with voters turning out in significant numbers at polling stations throughout the region. According to official figures, there are 963,000 registered voters in G-B, including 506,000 men and 456,000 women. A total of 1,391 polling stations were set up, where a large turnout was witnessed, with women also participating in considerable numbers.
More than 12 political parties, alongside independent candidates, contested the elections. Overall, 396 male candidates and eight female candidates took part in the contest, highlighting a competitive electoral field in the region. The contest between the PPP and PML-N was particularly closely watched.
The Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly consists of 33 seats. Of these, 24 are filled through direct elections, while six seats are reserved for women and three for technocrats. A simple majority of 17 seats is required for any party or alliance to form the government.
Election Commission and Official Statements
G-B Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Raja Shahbaz Khan visited various polling stations in Gilgit city and reviewed polling arrangements, security measures and the overall electoral environment. Speaking to PTV, he said strong voter activity was being witnessed across G-B. He said security arrangements were satisfactory and polling was being conducted in an organised manner. He noted that women's turnout at dedicated polling stations reflected growing awareness of the importance of voting. He expressed satisfaction with the overall voter turnout.
G-B Caretaker Information Minister Ghulam Abbas also praised voter participation in the elections. Speaking to local media, he said polling had proceeded smoothly, with a significant number of voters turning out at polling stations across the region.
Concerns Over Form 45
As vote counting continued after polling closed, concerns were raised by PPP representatives over the non-issuance of 'Form 45' – the document that contains the polling-station vote count. The party described the issue as a point of contention in several areas. Senior PPP leader Qamar Zaman Kaira said he had anticipated concerns regarding the results process and had taken up the matter with the Election Commission earlier, specifically demanding the issuance of 'Form 45'. Kaira urged party workers to remain calm at polling stations and avoid any form of unrest, stressing the importance of maintaining peace during the counting process.
His concerns were also echoed by the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F). In a statement, JUI-F leader Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri expressed serious reservations over the 'Form 45' issue, describing it as a major point of contention in the ongoing counting process. He said delays in the announcement of results had also cast serious doubt over the credibility of the electoral process.
PTI Claims Strong Performance
Meanwhile, PTI leaders claimed a strong performance by the party's candidates in the elections. PTI leader and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Minister Shafi Jan said the party held a clear advantage on the ground compared to other political forces. He urged voters to closely monitor the results process to ensure protection of their mandate.
