Gilgit-Baltistan votes in legislative assembly elections on Sunday; 24 constituencies up for grabs

The people of Gilgit-Baltistan are set to vote on Sunday in the general elections for the GB Legislative Assembly. The polls, originally scheduled for earlier, were postponed by four months due to the harsh winter conditions prevalent in the region. This delay has led to an intensified campaign period, with the PPP and other political parties staging numerous rallies to garner support.

Elections will be contested across 24 constituencies. The GB Election Commission reports a total of 958,480 registered voters, comprising 503,772 males and 454,708 females. The electoral landscape features 396 candidates, a significant portion of whom, 266, are running as independents. Notably, only eight women are contesting the elections, with five of them also running as independent candidates.

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The vote is the voice of every citizen, the foundation of the democratic system and a national duty.

Major political parties have fielded their candidates, with the PPP presenting 23 contenders and the PML-N fielding 22. Both parties have nominated one female candidate each. Other parties in the fray include the Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party (IPP) with 15 candidates, the PTI with 10, and the Pakistan Nazaryati Party with 10. Additionally, nine candidates belong to the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), seven to the Majlis-i-Wahdat-i-Muslimeen (MWM), and six each to the Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM). The Awami Workers Party (AWP) has four candidates, while the Awami National Party (ANP), Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), and PML-Q each have one candidate.

Polling is scheduled to run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. The GB Chief Election Commissioner, Raja Shahbaz Khan, has delegated the powers of a first-class magistrate to all returning officers to ensure the elections are conducted peacefully, transparently, and lawfully. Khan emphasized the strict implementation of election laws and the code of conduct to uphold public trust. Caretaker Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ghulam Abbas urged citizens to actively participate, calling the vote a national duty and the foundation of democracy. He expressed hope for high turnout, emphasizing that every vote contributes to the region's development and future.

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Strict implementation of election laws, adherence to the election code of conduct and transparency in the electoral process would be ensured at all costs so that free, fair and impartial elections could be held while upholding the trust of the people.