Gilgit-Baltistan Elections 2020: PTI wins 10 seats, independents seven

Residents of Gilgit-Baltistan voted on Sunday in the region’s third election since it was given the power to rule itself in 2009 through its assembly.

Polling began at 8am and ended at 5pm. People within the premises of the polling stations could still cast their votes.

GB has 24 constituencies and its assembly has 33 seats. A total of 330 candidates are contesting 24 seats. Of the remaining seats, six are reserved for women and three for technocrats.

The region has a population of about 1.3 million and a total of 745,361 voters have registered, of which roughly half or 339,992 are women. The election commission has set up 1,990 polling stations.

The turnout was over 50%, the Election Commission of Pakistan said. In Skardu, our reporter estimates that the turnout is double than what it was during last elections.

He also noted that there were many women coming to vote and that some polling stations closed early because 100% turnout was reported.

No news of fights or disturbances have been reported. Our reporters also noted that the polling process was conducted with discipline.

THE RESULTS BEING REPORTED HERE ARE UNVERIFIED AND UNOFFICIAL.

GBLA-1 (Gilgit-I)

PPP’s Amjad Hussain has won the election after securing 11,178 votes, according to the unofficial and unverified results. He was followed by independent candidate Sultan Rais who received 8,356 votes.

List of candidates:

• PPP’s Amjad Hussain- 11,178
• IND Sultan Rais- 8,356
• PTI’s Johar Ali- 403
• PML-N’s Jafarullah Khan
• ITP’s Syed Mustafa Shah
• PML-Q’s Tariq Hussain

GBLA-2 (Gilgit-II)

PTI’s Fateullah Khan emerged victorious after bagging 6,848 votes. PPP’s Jameed Ahmed came in second after losing four votes.

The PPP has challenged the results and is currently staging a sit-in in the constituency. PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari attended the protest too.

The voter turnout was 60% and 24,661 people cast their votes at 73 polling stations.

List of candidates:

• PTI’s Fatehullah Khan-6,698
• PPP’s Jameel Ahmed- 6,694
• PML-N Hafeezur Rehman-5,723
• PML-Q’s Nasir Mir- 1,500
• JUI’s Muhammad Mujahid-3
• GBQM’s Abdul Wahid-1
• JIP’s Habib Ur Rehman- 833
• PAL’s Khalid Naveed- 140
• ITP’s Faqir Shah-494
• MQM’s Tariq Hussain-15
• IND Ashfaq Ahmed- 794
• IND Amin Sher Khan- 121
• IND Aurangzaib- 4
• IND Jibran Rasheed- 40
• IND Shahid Hussain-140
• IND Shabbir Alam-4
• IND Shoaib Kamal-13
• IND Abdul Khaliq-8
• IND Abdul Latif- 30
• IND Fida Hussain-280
• IND Kousar Hussain-8
• IND Ghulab Shah-1,289
• IND Liaqat Ali Khan-3
• IND Muhammad Nazeem Khan-10

GBLA-3 (Gilgit-III)- Elections postponed

The election has been postponed in GBLA-3 after one candidate, Justice (retd) Syed Jaffar Shah, died of the novel coronavirus on October 10.

Shah was contesting on the PTI’s ticket. After his death, PML-N candidate Dr Iqbal switched loyalties and joined the ruling party.

The election will be held at a later date.

GBLA-4 (Nagar-I)

PPP’s Amjad Hussain clinched victory after receiving 4,176 votes. Islami Tehreek Pakistan’s Muhammad Ayub came in second with 4,291 votes.

List of candidates:

• PPP’s Amjad Hussain- 4,716   
• ITP’s Muhammad Ayub-4,291
• PTI’s Zulfiqar Ali-2,200
• Arif Hussain (PML-N)
• Rizwan Ali (MWM)

GBLA-5 (Nagar-II)

Javed Ali Manwa, an independent candidate, won the elections after securing 2,570 votes. Majlis-e-Wahdatul Muslimeen’s Rizwan Ali came in second with 1,850 votes.

List of candidates:

• IND Javed Ali Manwa- 2,570
• MWM’s Rizwan Ali- 1,850
• PML-N’s Sajjad Hussain
• PPP’s Mirza Hussain
• PML-Q’s Abid Hussain
• APML’s Muhammad Essa

GBLA-6 (Hunza-I)

Colonel (retd) Abaid Ullah Baig, who belongs to the PTI, won after receiving 6,600 votes. Independent candidate Noor Muhammad came in second with 4,584 votes.

List of candidates:

• PTI’s Abaid Ullah Baig- 6,600
• IND Noor Muhammad – 4,586
• PPP’s Zahoor Kareen – 1,065                  

GBLA-7 (Skardu-I)

PTI’s Muhammad Zakeria Maqpoon has won the election in GBLA-7 Skardu-1 by bagging 5,565 votes, unofficial and unverified results from all polling stations suggest.

He was followed by former GB chief minister Syed Mehdi Shah who secured 4,113 votes.

List of candidates:

• PTI’s Muhammad Zakeria Maqpoon- 5,565
• PPP’s Syed Mehdi Shah – 4,113
• PML-N’s Muhammad Akbar Khan – 1,505

All the women in Haji Gaam village have voted. There were 350 registered women voters and 100% voter turnout.

GBLA-8 (Skardu-II)

Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen’s Meesam Kazim has won the election in GBLA-8 Skardu-II by bagging 7,842 votes. Peoples Party’s Muhammad Ali Shah stands runner-up with 6,904 votes.

There were 55 polling stations and 39,567 voters were registered. At least 22,182 votes were counted and the turnout was recorded at 58.42%

List of candidates:

• MWM’s Meesam Kazim- 7,842
• PPP’s Muhammad Ali Shah- 6,904
• PML-N’s Muhammad Saeed- 1,835
• ITP’s Muhammad Shabbir- 1,834
• IND Ahmed Khan- 35
• IND Imtiaz Haider- 3,012
• IND Sher Ali Saeedi- 371
• IND Muhammad Afzal- 101
• APML-Manzoor Hussain-248

GBLA-9 (Skardu-III)

Wazi Muhammad Saleem, an independent candidate, is leading after securing 6,286 votes. PTI’s Fida Muhammad Nashad is trailing with 5,187 votes.

The polling stations haven’t been able to submit the official vote count as many roads have been blocked because of snowfall.

List of candidates:

• IND Wazir Muhammad Saleem (IND)- 6,286
• PTI’s Fida Muhammad Nashad- 5,187
• PPP’s Wazir Waqar Ali
• IND Manzoor Ahmed

GBLA-10 (Skardu-IV)

Independent candidate Nasir Ali Khan won the election after bagging 4,811 votes. He defeated PTI’s Wazir Hassan who received 3,439 votes.

The total number of registered voters in the constituency is 26,839, of which 17,702 votes were counted. The turnout was 69.96%.

List of candidates:

• IND Raja Nasir Ali Khan-4,811
• PTI’s Wazir Hassan- 3439
• PML-N’s Ghulam Abbas- 695
• PPP’s Muhammad Khan Wazir- 2,206
• ITP’s Muhammad Sikander Ali-1,398
• MWW’s Mushtaq Hussain-2,021
• PML-Q’s Wazir Ishaq-139
• IND Najaf Ali-2,416
• IND Basharat Hussain- 132
• IND Syed Yaseen Shah-434
• IND Manzoor Hussain-11

GBLA-11 (Kharmang)

PTI’s Syed Amjad Ali won the GBLA-11 constituency after securing 5,733 votes. Independent candidate Syed Muhsin Rizvi came in second with 2,016 votes.

List of candidates:

• PTI’s Syed Amjad Ali- 5,733
• IND Syed Muhsin Rizvi- 2,016
• Shabbir Hussain  
• PPP’s Niaz Ali
• ITP’s Muhammad Ali Khan
• IND Muhammad Qasim
• IND Iqbal Hussain
• IND Shujaat Hussain
• IND Ghulam Muhammad
• IND Mehboob Ali

GBLA-12 (Shigar)

PTI’s Raja Azam Khan won the election after bagging 7,534 votes. PPP’s Imran Nadeem came in second with 7,146 votes.

List of candidates:

• PTI’s Raja Muhammad Azam Khan- 7,534
• PPP’s Imran Nadeem- 7,146
• PML-N’s Muhammad Tahir Shigri- 673
• PML-Q’s Muhammad Hassan-

GBLA-13 (Astore-I)

PTI’s Muhammad Khalid Khurshid Khan won the election after securing 4,836 votes. PPP’s Abdul Hameed Khan came in second with 3,117 votes.

List of candidates:

• PTI’s Muhammad Khalid Khurshid Khan- 4,836
• PML-N’s Rana Farman Ali- 2,192
• PPP’s Abdul Hamid Khan- 3,117
• JI Abdul Rehman
• IND Eijaz Ahmed
• IND Rana Muhammad Aflatoon
• IND Abdul Rehman
• IND Ghulam Akbar
• IND Dr Ghulam Abbas
• IND Muhammad Shafi
• IND Muhammad Munawer Lone
• IND Naseem Shah

GBLA-14 (Astore-II)

PTI’s Shamsul Haq Lone won the seat after receiving 5,354 votes. PPP’s Muzaffar Ali was the runner up with 3,473 votes.

List of candidates:

• PTI’s Shamsul Haq Lone- 5,354
• PML-N’s Rana Muhammad Farooq- 3,009
• PPP’s Muzaffar Ali- 3,473
• PSP’s Mehfooz Rehman
• JI’s Neematullah Khan

GBLA-15 (Diamer-I)

Independent candidate Shah Baig won the seat after receiving 2,713 votes. Another independent candidate Muhammad Dilpazir came in second with 2,309 votes.

List of candidates:

• IND Shah Baig- 2,713
• IND Muhammad Dilpazir0 2,309
• PTI’s Noshad Alam
• PML-N’s Abdul Wajid
• PPP’s Bashir Ahamed
• PML-Q’s Ashiqullah
• MQM-P’s Abdul Baqi
• JUI’s Waliur Rehman

GBLA-16 (Diamer-II)

PML-N’s Muhammad Anwar secured 4,813 votes after which he was declared victorious.

Independent candidate Attaullah came in second with 2,576 votes.

List of candidates:

• PML-N’s Muhammad Anwar-4,813
• IND Attaullah- 2,576
• PTI’s Atiqullah
• PPP’s Haji Dilbar Khan
• JUI-P’s Saifullah
• PML-Q’s Abdul Aziz
• IND Attaullah
• IND Muhammad Mera Jan

GBLA-17 (Diamer-III)

PTI’s Haider Khan won the seat with 5,389 votes, JUI’s Rehman Khaliq secured 5,162 votes and PPP’s Ghafar Khan came third with 423 votes.

List of candidates:

• PTI’s Haider Khan- 5,389
• PML-N’s Saddar Alam    
• PPP’s Abdul Ghafar Khan-423
• JUI-P’s Rehmat Khaliq- 5,126
• IND Muhammad Zaman
• IND Mehboobur Rehman
• IND Abdul Khaliq
• IND Abdul Bar
• IND Muhammad Shoaib
• IND Naimat Wali
• IND Haji Kaman Khan

GBLA-18 (Diamer-IV)

PTI’s Gul Bar Khan won the seat after bagging 6,793 votes while independent candidate Malik Kifayatur Rehman received 5,986 votes.

List of candidates:

• PTI’s Gul Bar Khan- 6,793   
• IND Malik Kifayatur Rehman-5,986
• PPP’s Sadia Danish
• PML-Q’s Mehar Dad
• JUI’s Abdur Rasheed (JUI-P)
• IND Abdul Sattar
• IND Malik Shifayatur Rehman
• IND Pachdar

GBLA-19 (Ghizer-I)

Independent candidate Nawaz Khan clinched victory in the constituency after receiving 6,208 votes.

List of candidates:

• IND Nawaz Khan-6,208
• PTI’s Zaffar Muhammad
• PML-N’s Atif Salman
• PPP’s Pir Jalal Ali Shah- 4,967
• BP’s Asghar Khan
• JUI’s Sher Ameen
• PML-Q’s Sohail Ahmed
• IND Ajab Khan
• IND Nawaz Khan
• PRHP’s Mehboobullah

GBLA-20 (Ghizer-II)

Nazir Ahmed, who was contesting on PTI’s ticket, clinched the seat after securing 5,592 votes. PML-Q’s Khan Akbar Khan came in second with 3,815 votes.

List of candidates:

• PTI’s Nazir Ahmed- 5,592
• PML-Q’s Khan Akbar Khan-3,815
• PML-N Muhammad Nazar Khan
• PPP’s Ali Madad Sher
• JUI-P’s Abdul Khaliq
• IND Sher Faraz       
• IND Fida Khan      
• IND Shehnaz Bhutto
• IND Sherjahan Khan
• IND Sher Faraz
• IND Safdar Ali Sherazi
• IND Attaur Rehman

GBLA-21 (Ghizer-III)

PML-N’s Ghulam Muhammad emerged victorious after bagging 4,334 votes, while PPP’s Muhammad Ayub Shah came in second with 3,430 votes.

List of candidates:

• PML-N’s Ghulam Muhammad- 4,334
• PPP’s Muhammad Ayub Shah- 3,430
• PTI’s Jehan Zaib
• Javaid Iqbal (IND)
• Gohar Shah (IND)
• Jamsheed Khan (APML)
• Tajwar Hussain (GB Qoumi Movement)

GBLA-22 (Ghanche-I)

Independent candidate Mustaq Hussain won the constituency after bagging 6,051 votes. PTI’s Muhammad Ibrahim Sanai can in second with 4,945 votes.

List of candidates:

• IND Mustaq Hussain- 6,051
• PTI’s Muhammad Ibrahim Sanai- 4,945
• PML-N’s Razaul Haq
• PPP’s Muhammad Jaffar
• JUI-P’s Gulam Nabi
• IND Ibrahim
• IND Javed Akhter
• IND Rehmatullah
• IND Syed Nazar Abbas Kazmi
• IND Muhammad Akhter Khan

GBLA-23 (Ghanche-II)

Abdul Hameed, an independent candidate, won the constituency after securing 3,666 votes. PTI’s Amina Ansari came in second with 3,296 votes.

Independent candidate Abdul Hameed emerged victorious in GBA-23 election with 3,666 votes. His oponent PTI’s Amina Bibi bagged 3,296 votes, securing the second position.

List of candidates:

• IND Abdul Hameed- 3,666
• PTI’s Amina Ansari- 3,296
• PML-N’s Ghulam Hussain
• PPP’s Ghulam Ali Haidary
• PSP’s Ghulam Ali
• PML-Q’s Mumtaz Ali Yaqvi
• JUI-P’s Wilayat Ali

GBLA-24 (Ghanche-III)

PPP’s Muhammad Ismail has won the GBLA-24 Ghanche-III election by bagging 6,206 votes, according to unofficial and unconfirmed results from all polling stations.

Ismail was followed by PTI’s Syed Shamsuddin who secured 5361 votes.

List of candidates:

• PPP’s Muhammad Ismail (PPP) – 6,206
• PTI’s Syed Shamsuddin (PTI) – 5,361    
• PML-N’s Manzoor Hussain
• PML-Q’s Muhammad Ibrahim Tabbasum
• IND Abideen Rahi

PML-N’s Maryam Nawaz, PPP’s Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, and PM Imran Khan visited the region to campaign for their parties.

Deputy Commissioner and District Returning Officer Naveed Khan toured the polling stations Sunday morning and met polling officers.

The first vote in Astore was cast by former local government chairman Muhammad Ramzan.

Chief Election Commissioner Raja Shahbaz visited multiple polling stations on Sunday and heard complaints from staff and voters. He instructed staff not to bother voters and said polling should be transparent this year.

The PPP’s Shehla Raza said an MNA or MPA is not the same as a minister or prime minister. An MNA is not a public office holder and should not be held to the same standard, she said, referring to federal ministers campaigning in GB ahead of the election.

Gilgit Baltistan announces strike from November 14 to 16

Gilgit Baltistan has announced a strike in region during the upcoming elections from November 14 to 16.

The decision was announced in a notification by the Election Commission of Gilgit Baltistan. The commissioner said that polling will begin in 23 constituencies of the region from 8am to 5pm on November 15.

Rigging claims are baseless: chief election commissioner

Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Election Commissioner Raja Shehbaz Khan has said there is no truth to the accusation that the elections have been rigged.

“I can’t stop people from saying what they want,” he said in an interview with SAMAA TV on Friday. “I ask people where is their mandate being stolen? Please tell me if I have done anything illegal.”

He claimed that the opposition parties are trying to build a narrative against the government. If you remember even in the US Elections Donald Trump said the elections were rigged, he said.

This happens everywhere, he added. “I can assure you that the elections will be neat and clean.”

Khan was asked why he didn’t do anything to stop senators, MPAs and other influential leaders from campaigning in the area. “We have issued 330 violations to people but I couldn’t have stopped them through any mechanism. I have to work under the law. You can’t expect me to stand with a baton to stop people.”

Why is Gilgit-Baltistan so important?

Gilgit-Baltistan is a historically distinct political entity near the disputed region of Jammu and Kashmir. It is located at the junction of China, Central and South Asia, and Afghanistan.

Gilgit-Baltistan was previously known as the Federally Administered Northern Areas. It is an autonomous region in northern Pakistan with separate government and electoral system. In 1970, it became a single administrative unit called the Northern Areas under the administrative control of the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Northern Areas, formed after the amalgamation of the Gilgit Agency, the Baltistan District of the Ladakh Wazarat, and the states of Hunza and Nagar.

The region is divided into two administrative divisions: Gilgit and Baltistan/Skardu. Its government is made up of the GB Council, Legislative Assembly, ministers, a chief minister and a governor. Its assembly has the power to make laws on 61 subjects, including land revenue and administrative courts and it votes on the budget.

CPEC passes through the Karakoram Highway and covers almost 600 kilometres in GB, giving the area a high profile geopolitically.
Since 1947, GB has not been granted provincial status due to its colonial association with the disputed region of Kashmir. During a recent speech, however, PM Khan promised to make GB into a province soon.