Gilgit-Baltistan Goes To Polls Today As Nearly Million Voters Elect New Assembly
• Polling for 24 Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly seats will be held from 8am to 5pm today.
• Nearly 959,000 registered voters will cast their ballots across the region.
• More than 17,500 security personnel have been deployed to ensure peaceful elections.
Gilgit-Baltistan is set to hold its general elections today (Sunday), with authorities completing all electoral and security arrangements for polling across the region’s 24 constituencies.
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According to the Election Commission, voting will begin at 8:00am and continue uninterrupted until 5:00pm. Voters will elect representatives for 24 seats of the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly in what is being seen as a crucial political contest for the region.
Election officials said that 958,780 registered voters are eligible to cast their ballots. The voter list includes 503,772 male voters and more than 455,000 female voters. A total of 396 candidates are contesting the elections, including 266 independent candidates, while seven women are also participating in the electoral race.
To facilitate the polling process, authorities have established more than 1,300 polling stations and 2,447 polling booths across Gilgit-Baltistan. According to the Election Commission’s final classification, hundreds of polling stations have been categorized as sensitive and highly sensitive due to security concerns.
District-wise arrangements show that Gilgit has 253 polling stations, Ghizer 207, Nagar 85, Hunza 88, Skardu 208, Shigar 71, Kharmang 43, Ghanche 154, Astore 108 and Diamer 174 polling stations.
Among all districts, Diamer has the highest number of highly sensitive polling stations, prompting authorities to implement additional security measures in the area. Enhanced security arrangements have also been put in place at other vulnerable locations across the region.
Gilgit-Baltistan Inspector General of Police Nasir Akbar Khan said more than 17,500 security personnel have been deployed to maintain law and order during the elections. Police, Rangers and other law enforcement agencies have been placed on high alert, while additional forces have been assigned to sensitive polling stations.
The Pakistan Army and other security agencies will also remain on standby to respond to any emergency situation if required.
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