Business Recorder
Polling for the Gilgit-Baltistan General Elections 2026 began on Sunday morning amid stringent security arrangements across the region, with voters casting their ballots to elect members of the Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly. Polling started at 8:00am and will continue uninterrupted until 5:00pm. Authorities have finalized all arrangements for the elections, with enhanced security deployed at polling stations to ensure a peaceful voting process. In Gilgit district alone, 253 polling stations have been established across three constituencies. Of these, 154 have been declared highly sensitive and 48 sensitive. Election materials, including ballot boxes, ballot papers and other essential supplies, were dispatched to polling stations ahead of polling day. According to official statistics, Constituency-I Gilgit has 23 candidates contesting the election and 47,373 registered voters. A total of 80 polling stations have been set up in the constituency, with 49 categorized as highly sensitive and 31 as sensitive. Constituency-II Gilgit has 40 candidates in the race and 55,849 registered voters. Authorities have established 91 polling stations, with security placed on high alert. Meanwhile, Constituency-III Gilgit has the largest field of candidates, with 122 contestants vying for the seat. The constituency has 52,161 registered voters and 82 polling stations, of which 16 have been declared highly sensitive and another 16 sensitive. More than 1,300 polling staff and 550 security personnel have been deployed in Constituency-I alone, while district administration and law enforcement agencies have put in place comprehensive security measures across the district to facilitate peaceful polling. The elections are being closely watched amid concerns raised by some political parties over electoral procedures in the lead-up to the vote. Results are expected to start emerging after the close of polling at 5:00pm.
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