GILGIT: As PPP protesters continued their blockade of Karakoram Highway (KKH) in Diamer and other areas on the third day on Wednesday against delay of official results in various constituencies, the GB Election Commission withdrew its earlier notification ordering a re-poll in 10 polling stations of GBA-8, Skardu-II, constituency, and declared MWM candidate Muhammad Kazim Mesum as winner from the area.

The GB Election Commission had earlier ordered re-polling in some polling stations of GBA-8, Skardu-II; GBA-13, Astore-I; GBA-15, Diamer-I; GBA-16, Diamer-II; and GBA-17, Diamer-III, and directed that results of the June 7 election should not be consolidated until re-polling in these constituencies is held.

The workers of PPP candidate Attaullah from GBA-16, Diamer-II, on Wednesday staged a protest demonstration outside DRO office in Chilas, blocking the KKH and demanding counting of postal ballots and announcement of the constituency’s final results without delay and without holding re-polling in three other polling stations.

The KKH has been closed for traffic for the third consecutive day and passengers travelling to and from other parts of country to GB have been facing great difficulties.

MWM candidate Kazim Mesum declared winner in GBA-8, Skardu-II, constituency

On Wednesday, PPP protesters temporarily opened the KKH for traffic for two hours to let stranded passengers go to their destinations.

The protesters said they will continue their blockade of KKH until official results of the constituency are announced and Form 48 is issued. PPP candidate Attaullah said the polling was held on June 7 in the presence of all agents and Form 45 was also issued.

He said that Form 47 was also issued on the basis of Form 45 and now only the counting of postal ballots remains. He said the GB Election Commission’s order for a re-poll in the constituency is not acceptable for the PPP.

He said that an attempt is being made to snatch the mandate of PPP candidate in GBA-16, Diamer II, constituency.

The PPP protesters said that according to Form 47, independent candidate Imam Malik bagged 24 more votes than the PPP’s candidate, but according to official figures, Mr Malik has just 180 postal votes while Mr Attaullah of PPP has 473 postal votes. They said that according to the record of Form 48, PPP’s Attaullah has won the election by 269 votes.

PPP candidate’s workers and supporters also staged a protest rally outside the GB Election Commission Secretariat in Gilgit blocking Shahrah-i-Quaid-i-Azam.

Meanwhile, PPP candidate for GBA-20, Ghizer-II, also staged a rally and protested against the returning officer’s decision to announce the final results without conducting a vote recount.

Addressing his supporters and workers, PPP candidate Advocate Nazir Ahmed said that GB Election Commission has announced official results without recounting of votes which the GB Election Commission had earlier ordered.

Meanwhile, in a major development, the GB Election Commission has withdrawn its earlier notification ordering a re-poll in 10 polling stations of GBA-8, Skardu-II, constituency. After the order, GBA-8’s returning officer issued Form 49, and declared MWM’s candidate Kazim Mesum as winner from the constituency on Wednesday.

Published in Dawn, June 11th, 2026