Parties question transparency amid delayed results and Form-45 concerns.
Image:APP
GILGIT: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) have raised concerns over alleged irregularities in the Gilgit-Baltistan elections as unofficial results continued to emerge.
The Election Commission of Gilgit-Baltistan directed returning officers to issue certified Form-45s and ensure compliance with electoral rules as vote counting progressed across constituencies.
Unofficial results from 18 of 24 seats show the PPP in the lead with nine seats, followed by independent candidates with six, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) with two, and Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) with one.
PTI, PPP and JUI-F all alleged delays in result announcements, restricted campaigning, and issues with the issuance of Form-45 documents.
PPP leaders claimed results were being withheld in some constituencies and warned of protests if the “public mandate” was altered. The party demanded that all pending results be released without delay.
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said his party was not allowed to hold proper election rallies and that senior leaders were restricted from campaigning. He also said electoral processes must be transparent and constitutionally fair.
JUI-F leaders also expressed concern over delayed results, saying the situation had raised questions about the credibility of the election process.
The Election Commission said Form-45s were being issued at polling stations where counting had been completed, while urging compliance with electoral procedures.
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said the party was emerging as the largest political force in the region and thanked voters for their support.
Polling took place across 1,391 stations in Gilgit-Baltistan, with over 963,000 registered voters participating.
Security remained tight, with more than 17,500 personnel deployed across sensitive and highly sensitive polling stations.
