24 seats up for grabs as G-B goes to polls today

GILGIT: Election preparations in Gilgit-Baltistan entered their final phase on Saturday as authorities completed arrangements for the Legislative Assembly polls scheduled for June 7, with over 963,000 registered voters set to choose representatives from 403 candidates contesting 24 seats.

Polling will be held from 8am to 5pm, with 13 seats required to form the next government.

Election officials said all logistical arrangements had been finalised and polling material was being dispatched to stations across the region.

A total of 7,678 personnel have been assigned election duties, while authorities confirmed that a comprehensive security plan is in place to ensure peaceful voting and timely delivery of materials to remote areas.

In Gilgit city, internet services remained suspended, with mobile data, fibre-optic and Wi-Fi connections unavailable. Although no official confirmation was issued, the disruption is being widely linked to security concerns ahead of polling day.

In Diamer district, Section 144 has been imposed for 60 days, banning weapons display, aerial firing, fireworks, and unauthorised drone use.

The order, issued by the deputy commissioner, requires prior approval for UAV operations, while law enforcement agencies have been exempted and strict action warned against violators.

Authorities said security has been significantly strengthened across Gilgit-Baltistan, with around 5,000 Punjab Police personnel deployed to assist local forces.

Across the region, 1,391 polling stations have been set up, including 551 highly sensitive, 349 sensitive and 488 normal stations, with additional deployments in high-risk constituencies such as Diamer and Gilgit.