GILGIT: The counting and verification of postal ballots for Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly constituency GBA-16 Diamer-II was underway amid tight security on Sunday after an election tribunal suspended the membership of Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party’s (IPP) Imam Malik.
Acting on GB Election Tribunal Judge Mushtaq Mohammad’s decision on Friday, the returning officer (RO) for GBA-16 Diamer-II started counting and verification of postal ballots to prepare the consolidated result of the constituency at the GB Election Commission Secretariat at 11am.
The RO had directed all contesting candidates to ensure their presence in the proceedings, either in person or through their authorised representatives.
In a statement, the GB Election Commission said the process of counting and verification of postal ballot papers started pursuant to Section 95 of the Election Act, 2017, read with Rule 85 of the Election Rules, 2017, at 11am. However, it added that IPP’s Imam Malik and PML-N’s Muhammad Anwar did not appear either in person or through an agent.
It added that the proceedings on postal ballots were started under Section 235 of the Election Act, 2017, in the absence of the candidates or their representatives.
RO Manzoor Payam and his team, in the presence of Gilgit Senior Civil Judge Fahad bin Nageeb, Assistant Registrar of the Chief Court Raj Mir and Deputy Election Commissioner Muhammad Ali, continued the counting and verification of postal ballots until the filing of this report.
PPP candidate Attaullah Khan and other candidates, Mohammad Nasir and Saifullah, were also representedby their agents duringthe process.
Tight security arrangements were made at the secretariat. A large number of police personnel were deployed, while entry to and exit from the secretariat were blocked. A source said the verification and counting of postal ballot papers would be completed by midnight.Jamil Nagri