The results of the recent elections in Gilgit-Baltistan have sparked a new political debate, with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the opposition Tehreek-e-Tahafuz Ain Pakistan (TTAP) rejecting the results, raising questions about the transparency of the election process.
PTI Chairman Barrister Gauhar Ali Khan claimed during a press conference that his party did not have complete freedom of political activities before the elections. According to him, party leaders were prevented from campaigning and workers faced difficulties in some areas, due to which the election competition could not be held on an equal footing.
Barrister Gauhar said that PTI-backed candidates had a clear lead in several constituencies, but the situation changed at the stage of results. He demanded a re-polling in a constituency in Astore, alleging that alleged fake votes and electoral irregularities affected the results.
PTI has announced that it will issue a detailed white paper on the issue and a protest campaign may also be launched after consulting with political allies. The party leadership maintains that it is necessary to answer the questions raised on the electoral process to protect the public mandate.
On the other hand, the opposition alliance Tehreek-e-Tahafuz Aayeen Pakistan also rejected the election results and likened them to the situation in the 2024 general elections. In a consultative meeting of the alliance, reservations were expressed over the electoral process and it was said that transparency is a basic condition for maintaining the credibility of the democratic process.
Tehreek-e-Tahafuz Aayeen Pakistan also expressed concern over the ongoing political and public protest situation in Azad Kashmir. The alliance urged the government to resolve public demands through dialogue and adopt a democratic path to resolve political differences.
According to political analysts, the disputes that have emerged after the Gilgit-Baltistan elections may not only affect the government-forming process but are also raising important questions regarding public confidence in the electoral system. Experts say that if the objections of political parties increase, the responsibility for transparent investigation and explanation on the electoral institutions will increase further.
According to the initial results, the Pakistan People’s Party has emerged as the largest party in the region, while the PML-N and independent candidates have also made notable gains. However, the ongoing dispute over the election results could make the political situation in Gilgit-Baltistan more important in the coming days.
Observers believe that for political stability, it is necessary that all complaints are reviewed under constitutional and legal procedures so that confidence in the democratic process can be maintained and political tension in the region does not increase.
