Business Recorder
ISLAMABAD: The embattled Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Saturday accused the federal government of attempting to influence the electoral process in Gilgit-Baltistan through what it described as an unprecedented deployment of security personnel from outside the region and a series of measures aimed at undermining the party’s election campaign. Addressing a press conference, PTI spokesman Sheikh Waqas Akram claimed that more than 13,000 security personnel had been deployed in Gilgit-Baltistan ahead of the polls, despite the region having around 5,600 local police personnel. According to him, the deployment included 11,000 personnel from Punjab Police, 1,000 from Sindh Police, 700 from the Frontier Constabulary and 140 from the CT Police. He alleged that the scale of the deployment reflected an attempt to influence polling and create an atmosphere of fear among voters. “This massive influx of police is not for maintaining peace but for orchestrating large-scale rigging,” Akram said, adding that the government was trying to prevent voters from freely exercising their democratic rights. The PTI leader also levelled a series of allegations regarding the conduct of the electoral process, claiming that internet and landline services had been disrupted in parts of Gilgit, key party workers had been detained in recent days, and elected representatives had been pressured to abandon the party. He further alleged that party leaders and workers loyal to former prime minister Imran Khan had been forced to leave the region, while PTI had faced restrictions in campaigning and electoral participation. Akram claimed that the party’s election symbol had been barred and alleged that a last-minute electoral arrangement involving the Gilgit-Baltistan Democratic Party was disrupted when its symbol was withdrawn through a late-night communication to returning officers. He also accused authorities of manipulating polling schemes, restricting access to postal ballots for PTI-backed candidates, and preventing party leaders and workers from holding rallies or conducting election campaigns. Akram alleged that voters in several constituencies were being pressured by local administrators to support candidates of the ruling coalition parties, including the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). He further claimed that PTI candidates had been warned that any attempt to challenge the process could result in disqualification before polling day. Describing the situation as a “state-orchestrated effort” to predetermine the outcome of the election, Akram called on the Election Commission to ensure a level playing field for all political parties. He also urged human rights organisations, democratic institutions and international observers to take notice of what he termed serious violations of democratic norms and electoral rights in Gilgit-Baltistan. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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