GILGIT: The Gilgit-Baltistan Election Commission has directed that the results of the June 7 election must not be consolidated until re-polling in five constituencies is complete, it emerged on Tuesday.

In a circular to the returning officers concerned, dated June 8 and available with Dawn, the GB Election Commission noted 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).

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 re-polled polling stations in the constituency-wise result”.

The commission told the ROs not to “open, scrutinise or count the postal ballots and not to finalise, consolidate, announce or issue the final result of your respective constituency until the completion of re-polling at the polling stations specified”.

In a statement, GB 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).

A day earlier, the GB 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.

The recount was scheduled to take place today. The commission also ordered a recount in Gilgit-III (GBA-3).

So far, the PPP remains in the lead after it gained 11 out of 24 seats in the Legi­slative Assembly, according to unofficial results (Forms-47) of the June 7 elections.

MUZAFFARABAD: Shops and markets were largely shut and vehicular traffic remained minimal in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), on Tuesday as the newly proscribed Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) observed a strike.

Meanwhile, AJK Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore urged a return to the negotiating table in a bid to end the tensions that have gripped the region over the past few days.

During the day, Muzaffarabad’s streets were deserted, with hardly any vehicles on the roads. Riot police and paramilitary personnel remained deployed in the city.

However, no demonstrations were witnessed in the capital.

Meanwhile, reports from Mirpur said that hundreds of people had gathered in the town’s Quaid-i-Azam stadium. “Shops are closed here and traffic is off the roads,” local journalist Sajjad Jarral told Dawn by telephone.

Witnesses in Kotli said that while the area observed a complete shutter-down and wheel-jam strike, hundreds of people led by JAAC core member Imtiaz Aslam were heading towards Poonch district via Tatta Pani.

Another big rally led by JAAC core member Khawaja Mehran from Dadyal also entered Kotli for onward march towards Poonch.

The legal fraternity of AJK boycotted judicial proceedings on AJK Bar Council’s call to protest the alleged arrest of senior lawyer Amjad Ali Khan, a core member of the JAAC.

JAAC’s protest call for today centred on a highly contentious demand to abolish the 12 seats in the region’s Legislative Assembly that are reserved for refugees from Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir who settled in mainland Pakistan after 1947. JAAC alleges that these seats were often used by mainstream Pakistani political parties to influence the formation of governments in Muzaffarabad.

The government, on the other hand, maintains that it is a constitutional matter and cannot be decided by one group.

Sedition proceedings ordered against 2 JAAC leaders

In another action against the JAAC, the AJK government has issued orders for initiating sedition proceedings against its leaders Shaukat Nawaz Mir, resident of Muzaffarabad, and Mehran Arshad Khawaja, resident of Mirpur.

A notification issued by the AJK Home Department accused both leaders of committing “sedition through their speeches, written material, videos and audios”.

The government has issued instructions to the Mirpur and Muzaffarabad senior superintendents of police (SSPs) under Section 196 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) to review the available records/materials.

It also directed the SSPs to register a case against Mir and Khawaja, and submit a charge-sheet in court after completing the investigation.

‘Find a way out through talks’

In a post on X, the AJK premier reiterated his call for the issue to be resolved through talks.

“Please come back to the negotiating table. I’m requesting everyone on daily basis to resolve matters through discussions instead of fire and blood,” Rathore wrote on X.

He added that the protesters’ “abusive comments, constant threats and senseless agitation” were not helpful to anyone in AJK.

“A political activist without the ability to debate and negotiate is like a pilot without the ability to fly an airplane. They both end up causing hurt and damage to people behind them,” the PPP leader remarked.

“Everyone recognises your rights and liberties,” the AJK PM assured, stressing that both sides needed to “remain calm and find a way out through talks”.

“The only weapon a political activist carries is his reasoning and negotiation skills,” Rathore said.

In an interview he shared on X, Rathore noted that the PPP, PML-N and the JAAC had their own stances on the issue of reserved seats for refugees, but he emphasised there was “space for a path forward”.

He remarked that protests by the JAAC could not secure a two-thirds majority in the assembly that was needed for a constitutional amendment, under which changes to refugee seats could be made.

HRCP expresses concern over ‘escalating confrontation’

Separately, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) said it was “deeply concerned by the escalating confrontation” in AJK and the loss of life among both protesters and law enforcement personnel.

It urged an “immediate de-escalation of tensions and an impartial investigation into all deaths and injuries”.

“The state must remember that proscribing popular movements invariably risks narrowing democratic space. Demands for constitutional change should be pursued through peaceful, representative and democratic processes rather than confrontation and violence,” the HRCP stressed.

The HRCP had previously also expressed concern over the proscribing of JAAC.

On Friday, the AJK government declared JAAC a proscribed organisation, stating that it was “engaged in terrorism” and had acted in a manner “prejudicial to peace and security” of the state. A day later, AJK authorities launched a crackdown on the JAAC, arresting scores of its leaders and activists from different areas.

But tensions in the region particularly flared up after a violent protest in Rawalakot, during which at least four law enforcement personnel and seven civilians lost their lives.

Islamabad has also dispatched federal paramilitary forces to reinforce the region’s thinly stretched police force, and intending visitors have been advised to postpone their trips until June 20.

ISLAMABAD/GILGIT: The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has emerged in the lead in the Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) Assembly elections, as unofficial and incomplete results show the party ahead on 11 of the 24 seats contested in Sunday’s polling.

The PPP is followed by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in five seats. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is leading in three seats and its ally, Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM), in one seat, while independent candidates are ahead in two constituencies.

According to Express News in the wee hours of 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 is in second place with 635 votes.

Unofficial results from GBA-2 show PML-N candidate Hafeezur Rehman leading the race. PPP candidate Jameel Ahmed is in second position. In GBA-6 Hunza, results from 77 of 88 polling stations show 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 the seat with 4,295 votes. Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) candidate Raja Jalal remained runner up with 3,849 votes, while PML-N candidate 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.

Meanwhile, counting continued in several constituencies. In GBA-10 Skardu, PPP candidate Raja Nasir Ali Khan was leading, against 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.

Earlier, 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.

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.

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.

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.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Monday strongly condemned what it described as massive electoral irregularities, manipulation of results and misuse of state machinery in several constituencies during the Gilgit-Baltistan elections held on Sunday.

In a statement issued by its central media department on X, PTI said early unofficial results showed its candidates leading until around 7pm, after which results from certain polling stations began to emerge showing unusually high voter turnout of over 80 per cent. The party also alleged that some ballot boxes contained between 700 and 800 votes, raising serious questions over transparency.

PTI further claimed that its polling agents were denied Form 45, calling it a violation of election laws and saying it reinforced concerns over tampering with results. The party added that reports from Nagar and other areas suggested the recovery of fake ballot papers from individuals affiliated with rival parties, while some suspects were allegedly caught red-handed in the early hours of the day.

According to PTI, the alleged irregularities were not limited to polling day but were part of pre-poll rigging, including changes in voter lists, duplication of voter entries across different polling stations, alleged interference by police and administration in constituency boundaries and polling arrangements, and harassment of candidates and party workers.

The party said these incidents reflected attempts to undermine the public mandate. PTI warned that it would pursue all constitutional, legal and democratic options to protect the rights of its voters in the event of any alteration in election results.

It demanded the immediate release of verified results from all polling stations, provision of Forms 45 and 46 to all candidates without delay, and an independent investigation into suspicious polling stations, along with action against those responsible. It also urged the Election Commission to ensure full transparency and fulfil its constitutional responsibilities.

PTI reiterated that it would continue to defend the mandate of the people of Gilgit-Baltistan and oppose any attempt to influence the electoral outcome.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, congratulated the people of G-B on the successful conduct of what he described as “transparent, peaceful and politically vibrant elections.”

The prime minister acknowledged that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) had emerged as the leading political party in the elections and deserved congratulations. He also extended felicitations to President Asif Ali Zardari and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on the outcome.

PM Shehbaz further congratulated the successful candidates of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), saying they had put up a strong electoral contest and praising their campaign efforts. He extended congratulations to all successful candidates across G-B, noting that their success reflected public trust.

The prime minister appreciated the people of G-B for their active participation in the democratic process, saying their engagement strengthened democratic traditions in the region. He said peaceful and transparent elections were the true hallmark of democracy and praised the Election Commission for ensuring free and fair polls.

He also lauded the role of law enforcement agencies, stating that the police and other security institutions played an important role in maintaining peace during the electoral process and deserved appreciation for their performance.

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 unofficial and incomplete results, the PPP is leading in 11 of the 24 seats, followed by the PML-N with five seats. The PTI was ahead in three constituencies, while its ally Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen was leading in one seat. Independent candidates are currently ahead in two constituencies.

However, nearly 22 hours after the close of polling, not a single official result has been announced, raising concerns over the delay in the formal declaration of outcomes.

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.

ISLAMABAD: Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) Chairperson Senator Rubina Khalid on Monday urged those whose words may have hurt BISP beneficiaries’ sentiments to apologise.

While she did not specifically name anyone, the senator said this during a press conference in Islamabad after mentioning remarks by Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah.

Speaking on Geo News’ programme ‘Capital Talk’ last week, Sanaullah claimed that the BISP data was “not accurate to the extent of Punjab”, alleged it was marred by corruption and remarked that the programme served no purpose other than turning people into beggars.

In her press conference, Khalid said it was not right to say that BISP was turning people into beggars, explaining that the programme catered to those who worked to earn a living. But, she continued, when they need financial assistance, it is the state’s responsibility to aid them without compromising their self-respect.

“BISP does not turn people into beggars; it prevents people from becoming one,” she said.

She then appealed to “all those giving such statements to abstain from doing so”.

“It is insulting,” she said. “No one has the right to insult, and I would appeal to them to apologise to [BISP beneficiary] families whose sentiments have been hurt by their words.”

She said while she was “open to suggestions” for the programme’s improvement, derogatory words about it.

The programme should not be “targeted for political motives”, she added.

Khalid said President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had full confidence in the programme, sharing further details about BISP.

Moreover, she said the BISP database was the largest in the country after the database of the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra).

“Saying that its data is incorrect, giving such sweeping statements — it takes years to build something and only a day is enough to destroy it,” she remarked.

According to a statement issued by BISP, the senator called negative propaganda against the programme “condemnable”, saying it safeguarded the dignity and economic empowerment of beneficiary women.

“The humiliation of poor and hardworking people is unacceptable, and those who have undermined the dignity of beneficiary families should apologise,” Khalid said.

During her press conference, Khalid also highlighted various accomplishments of BISP, particularly its Digital Wallet initiative.

She said that more than 8 million free “Benazir SIMs” had been distributed for the opening of digital wallets for beneficiary women to “eliminate unauthorised deductions and unnecessary difficulties in accessing payments”.

She noted that all BISP payments will be made via digital wallets from July 2026.

Khalid emphasised that the Digital Wallet initiative had been launched “to provide greater financial autonomy to women and improve the efficiency of payments”.

“More than 2.2 million women beneficiaries and their children are benefiting from the Benazir Nashonuma Programme, which has contributed to a 22 per cent reduction in stunting,” the chairperson was quoted as saying in the statement.

In addition, under the Benazir Hunarmand Programme, 6,000 young people have been enrolled for skills training in various sectors, and more than 12m children are benefiting from the educational support provided by the Benazir Taleemi Wazaif Programme.

Khalid highlighted that BISP was recognised “not only in Pakistan but across the world” as a model programme for women’s economic empowerment and financial inclusion, adding that several countries and international organisations were studying and learning from the BISP model.

The senator further said that the programme reflected the state’s commitment to protecting the dignity of poor and lower-middle-income households, according to the statement.