GB election results taking time to be finalised, but notification to be issued within 14 days: CEC

Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Raja Shahbaz Khan stated on Thursday that while the finalisation of election results is taking longer than expected, the official notification will be issued within the 14-day period mandated by law.

According to a statement released by the Gilgit-Baltistan Election Commission, the electoral process concluded peacefully, and efforts are currently focused on compiling and confirming results from various constituencies.

The CEC explained that delays are mainly due to the challenges of collecting and verifying results from remote regions. He cited Section 98 of the Election Act, which allows up to 14 days for the issuance of final results.

The commission is also reviewing nine election-related petitions. Hearings have already been completed for three petitions, while the remaining cases are scheduled to be heard on Friday. Officials expect this process to conclude shortly.

Form 49, which contains the final official results, has already been issued for GBA-6 Hunza, GBA-11 Kharmang, GBA-23 Ghanche II, and GBA-24 Ghanche III. Re-polling has been ordered in five constituencies, and work continues to finalise results elsewhere.

On the political front, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) have yet to reach an agreement on forming the next Gilgit-Baltistan government.

Based on unofficial Form-47 results from the June 7 elections, the PPP emerged as the largest party by winning 11 of the 24 seats in the Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly. The PML-N secured six seats.

Senior leaders from both parties met in Gilgit to discuss possible arrangements for forming the new government. The PPP described the talks as a significant step forward and said proposals would be presented to the central leadership of both parties for consideration. Discussions also covered broader political cooperation and national issues.

PPP representatives maintained that the party had received a clear public mandate by becoming the largest political force in the assembly. They stressed that any decisions regarding government formation would be guided by democratic values, consultation, and public interest.

The PML-N similarly confirmed that several proposals were discussed and agreed that consultations would continue before any final decisions are made by the parties’ central leadership.

The PPP delegation included Secretary General Nayyer Hussain Bukhari, Qamar Zaman Kaira, Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Memon, Sindh Local Government Minister Nasir Hussain Shah, and PPP Gilgit-Baltistan President Advocate Amjad Hussain, who is considered a leading contender for the chief minister’s position.

Representing the PML-N were Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Amir Muqam and the party’s Gilgit-Baltistan President, former Chief Minister Hafiz Hafeezur Rehman.

According to the unofficial constituency results, the PPP won 11 seats, followed by the PML-N with six. PTI-backed candidates secured two seats, while its ally Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen (MWM) won one seat. Four seats were captured by independent candidates.

Final consolidation of results remains pending in five constituencies—GBA-8 Skardu-II, GBA-13 Astore-I, GBA-15 Diamer-I, GBA-16 Diamer-II, and GBA-17 Diamer-III—where re-polling issues affected the process.

However, on Wednesday, the Election Commission withdrew its earlier order for re-polling at 10 polling stations in GBA-8 Skardu-II. Following that decision, the returning officer issued Form 49 and officially declared MWM candidate Kazim Mesum as the winner of the constituency.