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 from the Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party (IPP) are locked in a tight contest for the GBA-16 (Diamer-II) seat in Gilgit, with repolling underway at three polling stations. A total of 2,780 registered voters have the opportunity to cast their ballots, with the voting currently ongoing until 5pm. Those still present at the polling stations when the time expires will be permitted to vote.

Imam Malik had initially contested the June elections in Gilgit-Baltistan as an independent candidate, but later switched sides and joined the IPP. The Election Commission declared him the returned candidate for GBA-16 (Diamer-II) in September, but his membership was suspended after Shah filed a petition before an election tribunal. The tribunal argued that the returning officer had issued Form-49 without accounting for the postal ballots.

On September 11, the tribunal ordered the RO to finish verifying and counting the postal ballot papers by September 16, suspending Malik's membership in the meantime. The verification and counting of postal ballots took place, resulting in Shah being declared the winner on September 14. Shah received 6,618 votes, narrowly edging out Malik by just 13 votes, as per the revised consolidated results released by the GB Election Commission.

However, Malik contested the tribunal's decision before the GB Supreme Appellate Court. On September 19, the appellate court upheld the tribunal's decision, confirming Shah as the returned candidate. Malik subsequently challenged the results at three polling stations, petitioning the election tribunal to order a re-polling. The tribunal accepted his plea, suspending Shah's membership and directing the chief election commissioner to conduct re-polling at the three polling stations within 12 days of November 6.