PPP and PML-N locked in close contest as Gilgit-Baltistan election counting begins

Counting of votes is underway after polling concluded for all 24 constituencies of the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly, with unofficial results showing a highly competitive electoral contest among major political parties and independent candidates.

Voting was held across 1,391 polling stations under strict security arrangements, including 349 sensitive and 551 highly sensitive stations. Polling began at 8:00am and continued uninterrupted until 5:00pm.

A total of 403 candidates contested the elections, including 396 male and 8 female candidates. Major political forces included the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), and several independent candidates, many of whom were supported by political groups.

Security remained tight throughout the process, with over 17,500 personnel deployed, including local police, Gilgit-Baltistan Scouts, and contingents from Punjab and Sindh police.

Chief Election Commissioner Raja Shahbaz Khan said polling was largely peaceful, with strong voter participation, especially from women. He also noted minor incidents in a few areas, including Skardu and Astore, which were quickly brought under control.

Unofficial constituency-wise results (partial and complete):

GBA-1 Gilgit-I

(28/80 polling stations)

PPP: Amjad Hussain – 3,600 votes (leading)
PML-N: Muhammad Shafiq-ud-Din – 2,300 votes

GBA-2 Gilgit-II

(27/91 polling stations)

PML-N: Hafeez-ur-Rehman – 4,129 votes (leading)
PPP: Jameel Ahmad – 2,695 votes

GBA-3 Gilgit-III

(42/82 polling stations)

PML-N: Muhammad Iqbal – 5,000 votes (leading)
Independent: Syed Sohail Abbas – 3,867 votes

GBA-4 Nagar-I

(37/53 polling stations)

PPP: Muhammad Ali Akhtar – 5,072 votes (leading)
ITP: Muhammad Ayub Wazir – 4,547 votes

GBA-5 Nagar-II

(11/32 polling stations)

Independent: Jahangir Shah – 814 votes (leading)
PML-N: Javed Ali Manwa – 629 votes

GBA-6 Hunza

(12/88 polling stations)

Independent: Niknam Karim – 937 votes (leading)
Independent: Raja Nazim-ul-Amin – 478 votes

GBA-7 Skardu-I (All results completed)

PPP: Syed Taqeer Mehdi – 4,337 votes (WINNER)
IPP: Raja Jalal Hussain Khan – 3,891 votes

GBA-8 Skardu-II

(8/70 polling stations)

MWM: Muhammad Kazim – 1,228 votes (leading)
PPP: Syed Muhammad Ali Shah – 936 votes

GBA-9 Skardu-III

(6/54 polling stations)

PPP: Fida Muhammad Nashad – 967 votes (leading)
Independent: Wazir Muhammad Saleem – 806 votes

GBA-10 Skardu-IV

(6/51 polling stations)

PPP: Nasir Ali Khan – 614 votes (leading)
MWM: Mushtaq Hussain – 458 votes

GBA-11 Kharmang

(10/51 polling stations)

PPP: Iqbal Hassan – 1,255 votes (leading)
Independent: Shujaat Hussain – 831 votes

GBA-12 Shigar

(10/71 polling stations)

PPP: Imran Nadeem – 1,541 votes (leading)
PML-N: Tahir Shigri – 875 votes

GBA-13 Astore-I

(20/57 polling stations)

PPP: Fawad Hanif – 2,130 votes (leading)
PML-N: Rana Farman Ali – 1,853 votes

GBA-14 Astore-II

(24/51 polling stations)

PML-N: Rana Muhammad Farooq – 3,390 votes (leading)
IPP: Shams-ul-Haq Loon – 3,383 votes

GBA-15 Diamer-I

(4/51 polling stations)

JUI-F: Wali-ur-Rehman – 662 votes (leading)
Independent: Muhammad Dilpazir – 420 votes

GBA-16 Diamer-II

(7/42 polling stations)

IPP: Atiq-ullah – 1,225 votes (leading)
PML-N: Muhammad Anwar – 867 votes

GBA-17 Diamer-III

(3/46 polling stations)

PPP: Muhammad Naseem – 806 votes (leading)
PML-N: Muhammad Zaman – 452 votes

GBA-18 Diamer-IV

(5/32 polling stations)

PML-N: Kifayat-ur-Rehman – 1,256 votes (leading)
IPP: Gulbar Khan – 1,162 votes

GBA-19 Ghizer-I

(21/78 polling stations)

PML-N: Zafar Muhammad – 2,233 votes (leading)
Independent: Nawaz Khan Naji – 2,155 votes

GBA-20 Ghizer-II

(20/69 polling stations)

Independent: Safdar Ali Shirazi – 1,530 votes (leading)
PML-N: Abdul Jahan – 1,504 votes

GBA-21 Ghizer-III

(1/60 polling stations)

PPP: Muhammad Ayub Shah – 87 votes (leading)
PML-N: Ghulam Muhammad – 70 votes

GBA-22 Ghanche-I

(8/58 polling stations)

PML-N: Muhammad Ibrahim Sanai – 1,209 votes (leading)
PPP: Ashiq Hussain – 945 votes

GBA-23 Ghanche-II

(9/50 polling stations)

Independent: Anwar Ali – 2,474 votes (leading)
Independent: Abdul Hameed – 344 votes

GBA-24 Ghanche-III

(26/46 polling stations)

Independent: Asad Shafiq – 4,419 votes (leading)
PPP: Muhammad Ismail – 2,830 votes

Election authorities said counting is continuing across remaining polling stations, and final results will be announced after consolidation of all data. Early trends indicate a closely contested election with strong performances from PPP, PML-N, and several independent candidates across Gilgit-Baltistan.