Business Recorder
Counting of votes is underway across Gilgit-Baltistan after polling concluded for the region’s general elections on Sunday, Aaj News reported. Polling for the Gilgit-Baltistan General Elections 2026 began at 8:00am on Sunday morning and continued uninterrupted until 5:00pm, amid stringent security arrangements, with voters casting their ballots to elect members of the Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly. Authorities had finalised 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 had been established across three constituencies. Of these, 154 had 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 were set up in the constituency, with 49 categorised as highly sensitive and 31 as sensitive. Constituency-II Gilgit has 40 candidates in the race and 55,849 registered voters. Authorities had 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 were deployed in Constituency-I alone, while district administration and law enforcement agencies had put in place comprehensive security measures across the district to facilitate peaceful polling. The elections were 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.
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