GILGIT, Oct 23: The candidates who bagged the highest number of votes in the recently held elections of Northern Areas Legislative Council and the local bodies have demanded re-polling in five stations in NA-III Gilgit constituency where their winning positions were eroded due to negligence of the polling staff.

The candidates including Aftab Haider Advocate for NALC, district council candidate Shahid Ali, Rahimabad Union Council candidate Shah Alam and Ejaz Ali of Khaltaro Union Council have asked the local administration to arrange fresh polling in five polling stations of Rahimabad, Oshikhandas, Chamugarh (2 stations), and Khaltaro (Haramoush) where, it is reported, the polling staff did not fix official mark (stamp) on the back of over 681 ballot papers in NALC elections and an equal number in the local bodies elections.

Union council candidates Shah Alam and Ejaz Ali filed applications with the Election Commission, saying they had been awarded zero votes in their polling wards (constituencies) due to this negligence and that they would not accept the results.

However, officials said they would follow rules.

"The officials are creating confusion about the vote dispute, with none owning the responsibility or giving any clear directives," the affected candidates said.

"The voters have given us mandate and polling officers have snatched this through their inefficiency and negligence which should be settled in our favour," they contended.

They said either the unstamped votes polled in their favour be declared valid or fresh polls arranged in the affected polling stations.

The sources said that due to improper training, lack of transportation and appointment of incompetent polling staff created this fuss.