G.BALTISTAN: Tensions flared during the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly elections on Sunday when supporters of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) got into a confrontation at polling station No. 403 in the GBA-II constituency.
The dispute began when PPP workers objected to the presence of PML-N candidate Hafiz Hafeezur Rehman at the polling station. The disagreement quickly escalated into a physical altercation between supporters of the two parties, despite police officers being present at the scene.
Following the incident, authorities increased security by deploying additional police personnel to maintain order and prevent further unrest.
In a separate incident in Diamer-II, election regulations were allegedly violated when a young voter entered a polling booth carrying a mobile phone, despite restrictions on electronic devices inside voting areas. A video showing the individual casting a vote while holding the phone later circulated widely on social media.
As of the filing of this report, the Election Commission had not issued any official response or taken action regarding the incident. Election laws prohibit photographing or recording ballot papers, and violators may face legal consequences.
Meanwhile, the PPP emerged as the party fielding the largest number of candidates in the elections, with 23 contestants. It was followed by PML-N with 22 candidates, Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party with 14, Pakistan Muslim League with 11, JUI-F with 9, MWM with 7, while both Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and MQM-P fielded six candidates each.
