• GB court suspends results in three constituencies
• Pakistan People s Party continues coalition talks with PML-N and IPP

GILGIT: The Gilgit-Baltistan Election Commission on Friday notified returned candidates from 21 general constituencies, six reserved seats for women and three technocrat seats, while the election results of three candidates remain suspended under orders of GB Supreme Appellate Court Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Shamim Khan.

According to a notification issued by the Gilgit-Baltistan chief election commissioner, the PPP secured 13 seats, followed by the PML-N with nine, the Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party (IPP) with six, the Majlis Wahdat-ul-Muslimeen (MWM) with one and one PTI-backed independent member.

Of the 21 general seats, the PPP won nine seats, while the results of two of its candidates have been suspended by the Supreme Appellate Court. The PML-N secured six seats, the IPP five , and the MWM one , while one constituency was won by an independent candidate.

The Gilgit-Baltistan Supreme Appellate Court Chief Justice heard various election-related petitions concerning PPP candidates Fida Muhammad Nashad from GBA-9 (Skardu), Mohammad Naseem from GBA-17 (Diamer-III), and independent candidate Dilpazeer Khan — who later joined the Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party (IPP) — from GBA-15 (Diamer-I).

Mr Nashad, the PPP candidate from GBA-9, was disqualified by the returning officer for failing to declare his assets in his nomination papers.

An election tribunal judge had also upheld the decision to disqualify the candidate; however, he later challenged it in the GB chief court, which allowed him to contest the elections.

According to the regional election commission, he was declared the winner after a recount of votes, and Forms 48 and 49 were issued on Wednesday.

During a hearing, however, the chief justice upheld Mr Nashad’s disqualification and also suspended the release of the election results for the constituency.

In another case, Justice Shamim ordered the suspension of the election result of PPP candidate Mohammad Naseem from GBA-17 (Diamer-III).

On June 15, the GB CEC had issued an order in the candidate’s favour, while the returning officer had issued Forms 48 and 49. However, the decision was challenged by an opposing candidate in the Supreme Appellate Court.

In a separate case, the chief justice suspended the election result of independent candidate Dilpazeer Khan from GBA-15 (Diamer-I), who later joined the IPP.

In all three cases, the chief justice also directed the concerned authorities to keep the results of the constituencies suspended until further court proceedings and final decisions in the cases.

A petition was filed in the court challenging the CEC’s decision to declare Dilpazeer Khan the winner without conducting a re-poll.

Meanwhile, despite an order by the CEC, the consolidated result of GBA-16 (Diamer-II) could not be prepared.

The CEC had directed the returning officer to count the postal ballots and prepare Forms 48 and 49 within one day.

In the meantime, the PPP, despite emerging as the largest party, has so far been unable to finalise an alliance to form a government in Gilgit-Baltistan, as no party has secured a simple majority.

The PML-N has already assured the PPP of its support for government formation. However, the PPP leadership is also holding negotiations with the IPP for a possible coalition.

According to a press release, an important meeting was held between the central and provincial leaderships of the PPP parlia­men­tarians and the IPP. During the meeting, detailed discussions were held on the prevailing political situation, public issues, the interests of Gilgit-Baltistan, and matters rela­ted to government formation in the region.

However, sources said the meeting failed to reach a consensus on a power-sharing formula.

The PPP reportedly insisted on allocating 25 per cent of government positions to the IPP in case of an alliance, while the IPP leadership sought a larger share.

On the other hand, Gilgit-Baltistan CEC Raja Shahbaz Khan has declared the IPP eligible for allocation of reserved seats in the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly, rejecting an appeal filed by the PPP.

Published in Dawn, June 20th, 2026