Skardu-III by-election underway amid tight security

Polling is underway in the GBA-09 (Skardu-III) constituency, where around 33,000 voters are eligible to cast their ballots in a closely watched by-election. 

Voting began at 8am and will continue until 5pm at 61 polling stations amid tight security.

The constituency has been divided into three security categories, with 25 polling stations classified as sensitive under Category A, 11 as medium-sensitive under Category B and 25 as normal under Category C. 

Personnel from the Gilgit-Baltistan Police, GB Scouts and armed forces have been deployed according to the security plan.

The by-election was ordered by the Gilgit-Baltistan Election Commission after the GB Supreme Appellate Court disqualified PPP candidate Fida Muhammad Nashad, who had been declared the returned candidate in the June general elections. 

Nashad’s son, Akhtar Abbas, is contesting on the PPP ticket, while Mohammad Ajmal is representing the PML-N. Former minister Mohammad Saleem is contesting as an independent. A total of 10 candidates are in the race.