SKARDU: The Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) Election Commission (EC) has issued a directive requiring all presiding officers in the region to provide polling agents with a copy of Form 45.
This move follows strong demands from Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leaders Nayyar Hussain Bukhari and Qamar Zaman Kaira, who called for the mandatory handing over of the form to polling agents.
The EC has emphasized that presiding officers across all 24 constituencies must adhere strictly to the guidelines and ensure that each polling agent receives at least one certified copy of Form 45.
The election authority clarified that providing Form 45 is a legal obligation under the Elections Act 2017, and fulfilling this requirement is crucial for ensuring transparency in the electoral process.
Prior to the EC’s announcement, PPP’s Nayyar Hussain Bukhari raised concerns that polling agents from his party were being denied copies of Form 45. He alleged that agents were being asked to leave polling stations, which prompted the party to escalate the issue by contacting the Chief Election Commissioner.
While the elections in Gilgit-Baltistan have largely been peaceful with minimal disruptions, Bukhari stressed the urgent need for the Election Commission to step in and address procedural issues to uphold transparency and fairness in the voting process.
