GB election results taking time to be finalised, but notification to be issued within 14 days: CEC

It is taking time to finalise the results of the Gilgit-Baltistan elections, but the final notification will be issued within 14 days as required by law, the region’s Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Raja Shahbaz Khan said on Thursday. A press release issued by GB’s election commission said that the election phase in the region had ended “peacefully” and work was underway to finalise the results. “It is taking time to collect and finalise the results from remote areas; however, the final notification will be issued within 14 days as per the law,” the CEC said, referring to Section 98 of the Election Act. Meanwhile, nine petitions regarding the elections are in the process of being heard by the commission. “So far, three petitions have been heard, while the hearing of the other petitions will be held on Friday,” the statement said, adding that this phase would be completed “soon”. According to the press release, Form 49 — for final official results — has been issued for the constituencies of GBA-6 Hunza, GBA-11 Kharmang, GBA-23 Ghanche II and GBA 23 Ghanche III. Re-polling orders have been issued in five others and work is underway to finalise the election results in the remaining constituencies, Khan said. Meanwhile, the PPP and PML-N leadership were unable to agree on the formation of the GB government. The PPP is all set to form a government in the region after it gained 11 out of 24 seats in the GB Legi­slative Assembly, according to the unofficial results (Form-47) of the June 7 elections. Earlier, key leaders of the PPP and PML-N, which secured six seats, met in Gilgit to hold detailed deliberations on proposals related to the formation of the upcoming GB government. In its statement, the PPP claimed a “major breakthrough” in the process, saying that the parties decided to present the proposals for the government’s formation to their respective central leadership. It said the discussions also pertained to political cooperation, along with various national and