GILGIT - Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) won Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly polls by securing 14 out of 24 seats as per unofficial results.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI), Islami Tehreek Pakistan (ITP) and Majlis-e-Wahdatul Muslimeen (MWM) secured two seats each while two seats went to independents. Pakistan People’s Party went back to 6th position and secured only one seat.
According to unofficial results received by DROs, former G-B Chief Minister Syed Mehdi Shah and ex-ministers, Ali Madad Shair, Haji Gulbar, Muhammad Naseer, Raja Azam Khan and Eng Ismail, as well as former duty speaker Jamil Ahmad lost their seats. The PML-N succeeded in clean sweeping polls in three districts, Gilgit, Astore and Ghanche.
Jafarullah of PML-N won on G-BLA-1, Gilgit-1 while PPP’s Amjad Hussain was runner up. PML-N provincial president Hafiz Hafeez-ur-Rehman won in G-BLA-2, Glt-2, where PPP’s Jamil Ahmad was runner up. PML-N candidate Dr Iqbal won in GBLA-3, Glt-3, while MWM candidate Sheikh Nasir Abbas was runner up.
Muhammad Ali Sheikh of Islami Tehreek Pakistan (ITP) won in Hunza-Nagir while PPP’s Muhammad Javaid remained runner up in GBLA-4, Hnr-1. MWM’s Rizwan won in GBLA-5, Hnr-2, while PTI’s Mirza Hussain was runner up there. PML-N candidate Mir Ghazanfar won in GBLA-6, Hnr-4, while Baba Jan of Awami Workers Party was runner up.
PTI candidate Raja Jalal won in GBLA-7, Skardu-1, and PML-N provincial general secretary Haji Akbar Taban got second position while the GB chief minister secured 3rd position. MWM candidate Kacho Imtiaz won in GBLA-8, Skardu-2, while PML-N candidate Syed Muhammad Ali was runner up. PML-N candidate Fida Muhammad Nashaat secured GBLA-9, Skardu-3 seat where MWM’s Nazir remained runner up. ITP’s Sikandar won GBLA-10, Skrd-4, seat where MWM’s Nasir Ali Khan was runner up. PML-N candidate Iqbal Hussain won GBLA-11, Skrd-5, seat while Amjad Zaidi was runner up there. PPP’s Imran Ali won GBLA-12, Skardu-6 seat while PML-N candidate Raja Azam, former planning minister, remained runner up.
In Astore, PML-N candidate Farman Wali won GBLA-13, Ast-1 seat. Barkat Jamil of PML-N secured victory in GBLA-14, Ast-2. In Diamer, JUI-F candidate Haji Shah Baig won GBLA-15, Dmr-1, and PTI candidate Noshad Alam secured 2nd position there. PML-N’s Haji Janbaz Khan secured victory in GBLA-16, Dmr-2. JUI-F candidate Rehmat Khaliq won in GBLA-3, Dmr-3. PML-N’s Muhammad Wakeel won in GBLA-18, Dmr-4. In Ghizer, independent candidate Nawaz Khan Naji won GBLA-19, Gzr-1 seat. Independent candidate Fidaullah won in GBLA-20, Gzr-2, while PML-N candidate secured second position there. PTI’s Raja Jahanzeb secured victory in GBLA-21, Gzr-3, and PML-N candidate Ghulam Muhammad remained runner up. In Ghanche, PML-N’s Muhammad Ibrahim Sanai and Ghulam-ud-Din won in GBLA-22, Ghe-1, and GBLA-22, Ghe-2, respectively, while PML-N’s Shafi won in GBLA-24, Ghe-3, where PPP’s Engineer Ismael, former health minister secured 2nd position.
Tight security arrangements were put in place across Gilgit-Baltistan to ensure smooth polling and the army was deployed in some areas of the region.
Caretaker Chief Minister Sher Jahan Meer said on Tuesday the polls were conducted in a peaceful and smooth manner in the district as no unpleasant incident was reported during the day.
Addressing a press conference in Gilgit, he appreciated the performance of Pakistan Army, Rangers, Gilgit-Baltistan Scouts and police for ensuring peaceful elections in Gilgit Baltistan.
Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan lauded security forces for ensuring peaceful elections in Gilgit-Baltistan.
In a statement, he also appreciated the people of Gilgit-Baltistan for their cooperation with the law-enforcement agencies. The elected members of the Legislative Assembly will elect three technocrats and six women.
This was the second time Pakistan has held polls to elect an assembly in Gilgit-Baltistan after the area got provincial status in 2009.