Karakoram Highway Blocked for Third Day Over Gilgit-Baltistan Election Disputes
Protests have blocked the Karakoram Highway for three days in Gilgit-Baltistan following the Election Commission's order for re-polling in five constituencies and delays in announcing official results. The demonstrations are primarily led by PPP supporters who dispute the re-polling decision and claim their candidate won based on postal ballot counts. The highway closure has disrupted travel between Gilgit-Baltistan and other parts of the country, forcing travelers to use alternative routes.
Protests blocking the Karakoram Highway in Diamer and other areas of Gilgit-Baltistan have continued for a third consecutive day, triggered by the Gilgit-Baltistan Election Commission's decision to order re-polling in five constituencies (Skardu-II, Astore-I, and three Diamer constituencies) and delays in announcing official results from the June 7 election. PPP candidate Attaullah from Diamer-II has led demonstrations outside the district returning officer's office in Chilas, claiming that according to postal ballot counts, he won by 269 votes, and that the re-polling order represents a theft of the public mandate. The protesters argue that Form 47 and Form 48 documents support their candidate's victory, while the Election Commission's decision to delay result consolidation until re-polling is completed is deemed unacceptable. The highway closure has forced travelers to use alternative routes like Babusar Road, though protesters temporarily reopened it for two hours on Wednesday to allow stranded passengers through. The Election Commission subsequently withdrew its re-poll order for Skardu-II after a fact-finding report concluded that polling was conducted peacefully and lawfully with no evidence of irregularities.
What's missing
The articles do not provide the Election Commission's official rationale for the initial re-polling orders in the other four constituencies (Astore-I, Diamer-I, Diamer-III), nor do they explain what specific irregularities or concerns prompted those orders before the Skardu-II order was withdrawn.
What different sources said
- DawnCenter
Protests block Karakoram Highway for third day over re-polling, delayed GB poll results
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