GILGIT: The PPP is poised to form the next government in Gilgit-Baltistan after the region’s chief election commissioner on Wednesday announced the decisions on three pending election petitions, increasing its tally to 11 of the 24 seats and making it the largest party in the GB Legislative Assembly.
GB Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Raja Shahbaz Khan declared PPP candidate Attaullah Khan the winner from GBA-16 Diamer-II, PML-N candidate Malik Kefayat from GBA-17 and PML-N candidate from GBA-13 Astore-I.
The rival candidates had filed petitions with the GB Election Commission, challenging the Form-47 results. After hearing arguments from both sides, the CEC had suspended the results and reserved his verdict on the petitions.
With the announcement, the PPP has secured 11 seats, the PML-N six, independent candidates — who joined the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party a day earlier — have won four, PTI-backed candidates have gained two and the Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen has bagged one seat.
The GB CEC said the notifications for the successful candidates would now be issued. He said six seats reserved for women and three technocrat seats would be distributed among parties according to the number of their seats after the official notification.
It is worth mentioning that the supporters of the independent candidate in GBA-16, Imam Malik, had been protesting by blocking the Karakoram Highway at Chilas and demanding re-polling at specific stations.
The GB CEC had earlier ordered re-polling at three stations in GBA-16 but had later rescinded the decision. He had also deferred results for GBA-13 Astore-I and GBA-16 Diamer-II till Wednesday.
According to the Election Commission, the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly elections held on June 7 witnessed a high voter turnout of 70 per cent, which the CEC had earlier described as a reflection of the public’s deep confidence in the democratic process.
Published in Dawn, June 18th, 2026
