GILGIT: Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Election Commissioner Raja Shahbaz Khan on Saturday urged leaders of all the political parties to help ensure free, fair and transparent conduct of the Nov 15 general elections in the region.

He made the call while speaking at a multiparty conference he had called to consult the political parties’ leaders on ensuring that elections were held in a free and fair manner, and also to review the security arrangements for the polls.

PPP GB chapter president Amjad Hussain Advocate, PML-N president Hafeezur Rehman, PTI general secretary Fatahullah Khan, JUI-F’s Attaullah Shahab, and leaders of religious and regional parties attended the moot.

The chief election commissioner informed the participants that all arrangements had been finalised for the elections. “Under the Section 234 of the Election Act, 2017, monitoring teams have been formed across GB to ensure implementation of the election code of conduct and campaigning,” he said.

He appealed to the leaders of all the parties to ensure implementation of the election code.

He said the election commission was an independent and constitutional organisation.

Raja Shahbaz said a total of 1,234 polling stations had been established in 24 constituencies, of them 415 stations had been declared extremely sensitive, 339 sensitive, and 480 normal.

He said over 745,000 voters would use their right of franchise, adding of the total voters, over 400,000 were male and over 339,000 female. He said the police, GB Scouts, the Rangers and FC personnel would be deployed for ensuring smooth conduct of the elections.

He warned that no one would be allowed to take law into their hands.

The election commissioner said publication of ballot papers was underway, adding media personnel and the observers would monitor the conduct of the elections.

He said a main complaints cell had been established and such cells would also be set up in the offices of the district returning officer in all the 10 districts.

Published in Dawn, November 8th, 2020