GB Election Commission bars consolidation of results until re-polling in 5 constituencies

GILGIT: The Gilgit-Baltistan Election Commission has directed that the results of the June 7 election must not be consolidated until re-polling in five constituencies is complete, it emerged on Tuesday. In a circular to the returning officers concerned, dated June 8 and available with Dawn, the GB Election Commission noted that it had ordered re-polling at certain polling stations in their respective constituencies — Skardu-II (GBA-8), Astore-I (GBA-13), Diamer-I (GBA-15), Diamer-II (GBA-16), and Diamer-III (GBA-17). The Election Commission observed that the “process of consolidation of results under the relevant provisions of the Elections Act, 2017 and Elections Rules, 2017 shall be completed only after inclusion of the results of the re-polled polling stations in the constituency-wise result”. The commission told the ROs not to “open, scrutinise or count the postal ballots and not to finalise, consolidate, announce or issue the final result of your respective constituency until the completion of re-polling at the polling stations specified”. In a statement, GB Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Raja Shahbaz Khan said re-polling would be held at 26 polling stations in five constituencies on June 15. According to the CEC, the polling stations included 10 in Skardu-II (GBA-8), one in Astore-I (GBA-13), one in Diamer-I (GBA-15), three in Diamer-II (GBA-16), and 11 in Diamer-III (GBA-17). A day earlier, the GB Elec­tion Commission had ordered a reco­unt in two other constituencies and some polling stations. One recount order came after independent candidate Safdar Ali Shirazi and PPP candidate Nazir Ahmed Advocate formally requested a recount of votes in Ghizer-II (GBA-20), alleging irregularities during the counting process. The recount was scheduled to take place today. The commission also ordered a recount in Gilgit-III (GBA-3). So far, the PPP remains in the lead after it gained 11 out of 24 seats in the Legi­slative Assembly, according to unofficial results (Forms