GB's Supreme Appellate Court suspends election results for candidates of 3 constituencies
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Gilgit-Baltistan Supreme Appellate Court Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Shamim Khan suspended the election results in three constituencies on Friday, while consolidated results for another — GBA-16 — could not be issued despite an order from the GB chief election commissioner (CEC). The election process has been delayed since June 7, prolonging the formation of the GB government. The chief justice heard various election-related petitions on Friday concerning PPP candidate Fida Muhammad Nashad from GBA-9 (Skardu), PPP candidate Mohammad Naseem from GBA-17 (Diamer-III), and independent candidate Dilpazeer Khan — who later joined the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) — from GBA-15 (Diamer-I). Nashad, the PPP candidate from GBA-9, was disqualified by the returning officer (RO) for failing to declare his assets in his nomination papers. An election tribunal judge had also upheld the decision to disqualify the candidate; however, he later challenged it in the GB chief court, which allowed him to contest the elections. According to the regional election commission, he was declared the winner after a recount of votes, and Forms 48 and 49 were issued on Wednesday. During a hearing on Friday, however, the chief justice upheld Nashad’s disqualification and also suspended the release of the election results for the constituency. In another case, Justice Shamim ordered the suspension of the election result of PPP candidate Mohammad Naseem from GBA-17 (Diamer-III). On June 15, the GB chief election commissioner (CEC) had issued an order in the candidate’s favour, while the returning officer (RO) had issued Forms 48 and 49. However, the decision was challenged by an opposing candidate in the Supreme Appellate Court. In a separate case, the chief justice suspended the election result of independent candidate Dilpazeer Khan from GBA-15 (Diamer-I), who later joined the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP). In all three cases, the chief justice also directed the concerned authorities to keep