PPP’s Shah, IPP’s Malik face off again as repolling under way for Diamer seat at 3 polling stations

Gilgit: Attaullah Shah from the PPP and Imam Malik of the IPP are once again competing for the GBA-16 (Diamer-II) seat in Gilgit. Repolling is underway at three polling stations, with a total of 2,780 registered voters eligible to participate. The voting process will persist until 5pm, and those still present in the polling stations at this time will be permitted to cast their ballots.

While Malik previously contested the June elections in Gilgit-Baltistan as an independent candidate, he subsequently joined the IPP. Initially, the Election Commission announced Malik as the returned candidate for GBA-16 (Diamer-II), but his status was suspended in September when Shah lodged a petition with an election tribunal.

The tribunal's September 11 ruling held that the returning officer had issued Form-49 without tallying the postal ballots. Subsequently, Malik's membership was suspended. The tribunal ordered the verification and counting of postal ballot papers by September 16, and in the meantime, Malik's membership was suspended. The post-election verification of postal ballots for GBA-16 (Diamer-II) took place, and Shah was declared the winner on September 14.

According to the revised consolidated results released by the GB Election Commission, Shah received 6,618 votes, narrowly defeating Malik by just 13 votes. However, Malik contested the tribunal's decision before the GB Supreme Appellate Court. On September 19, the appellate court rejected Malik's appeal against the suspension of his membership and affirmed the tribunal's declaration of Shah as the returned candidate.

Malik subsequently challenged the results at three polling stations and petitioned the election tribunal to order a re-poll. The tribunal accepted Malik's plea and suspended Shah's membership, directing the chief election commissioner to conduct repolling at the three polling stations within 12 days of November 6.