Polling began at 8:00am and continued uninterrupted until 5:00pm across the region. A total of 403 candidates, including 396 men and eight women, contested the elections.
According to election officials, Gilgit-Baltistan has 963,034 registered voters, including 566,097 men and 396,937 women.
Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Election Commissioner Raja Shahbaz visited several polling stations during the day to review arrangements and monitor the voting process. Speaking to the media after polling ended, he said the elections were held peacefully and witnessed encouraging participation from women voters.
“I personally visited polling stations to assess the arrangements and monitor the voting process,” Raja Shahbaz said, adding that polling staff and security personnel performed their responsibilities effectively.
He said the overall law and order situation remained satisfactory throughout the day and that the electoral process concluded in a peaceful environment.
The Election Commission established 1,391 polling stations across Gilgit-Baltistan. Of these, 488 were classified as normal, 349 as sensitive and 551 as highly sensitive.
District-wise, Gilgit had 253 polling stations, including 154 highly sensitive locations. Ghizer had 207 polling stations, Nagar 85, Hunza 88, Skardu 208, Shigar 71, Kharmang 43, Ghanche 154 and Astore 108 polling stations.
Among the political parties contesting the elections, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) fielded the highest number of candidates with 23 contestants, followed by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) with 22 candidates and 19 independent candidates backed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
The Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) fielded 15 candidates, while the Pakistan Nazriyati Party (PNP) nominated 11 candidates. Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) and Islami Tehreek Pakistan (ITP) each fielded nine candidates. Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) nominated seven candidates, while Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) fielded six candidates each. The Awami Workers Party (AWP) entered four candidates in the race.
Authorities said comprehensive security measures were implemented to ensure peaceful polling. Personnel from Gilgit-Baltistan Police, Gilgit-Baltistan Scouts, and contingents from Punjab and Sindh police were deployed at polling stations and key locations throughout the region.
Additional security personnel were stationed at vulnerable locations, while law enforcement agencies and district administrations remained on high alert throughout the voting process.
Gilgit-Baltistan Inspector General of Police Nasir Akbar Khan said more than 17,500 security personnel were deployed for election duty.
“Police, Rangers and other law enforcement agencies remained on alert throughout the electoral process,” he said, adding that extra forces were assigned to sensitive and highly sensitive polling stations.
The final results are expected to emerge after the completion of the vote-counting process.
