PTI leads in GB elections as Bilawal rejects results
Monitoring Desk :
Ruling Pakistan Tehrik e Insaf (PTI) is leading the hotly contested elections in the Gilgit-Biltistan. As per unofficial results, the ruling party has got 9 seats, independent candidates 7 seats, PPP 3 and PML-N has won 2 seats.
330 candidates, including four women, are vying for the 24 general seats in the third legislative assembly of Gilgit-Baltistan. The voting process in the mountainous region which mostly went peacefully began at 8 am on Sunday and continued until 5 pm without any interval. Polling in most constituencies went smoothly throughout the day.
However, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has rejected the results and said on Twitter “my elections have been stolen”.
In Gilgit city, women and the elderly showed their enthusiasm and turned up in numbers at polling stations to cast their votes. However, in Ghizer, Hunza, Sost and Baltistan heavy snowfall continued, restricting citizens to their houses. Polling in one constituency was postponed, according to Radio Pakistan.
He added that the party will continue its election campaign in the region and will only go back after retaking its “stolen seats”. He added that despite influencing the polls, the PTI had still not managed to secure the people’s mandate.
PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz also alleged the elections were “rigged”, advising people to “not lose courage”.
In a series of tweets, Maryam claimed that “neither did the PTI have any existence in GB previously nor would it have one now”. She said that the “few seats the PTI won through begging was due to force, rigging, breaking away PML-N candidates and with the help of ‘selectors'”.
The federal government has faced such a defeat in the region for the first time, she said, adding that it was telling the story of [PTI’s] defeat in the coming days.
PTI leads in GB elections as Bilawal rejects results
