GILGIT: Voting process for the general elections of Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly (GBLA) on Sunday is underway amid tight security and coronavirus pandemic threat.
According to details, the polling started at 8am and will continue until 5pm without any break. As many as 330 candidates including four women are contesting the general elections in 23 constituencies of GB Assembly. Elections have been delayed in GBLA-3 following the death of PTI Gilgit-Baltistan President retired Justice Jaffer Shah from coronavirus.
At least 1,26,997 fresh voters are expected to poll their right of vote in general elections of Gilgit-Baltistan.
A district wise voter list has been issued from Election Commission of GB, which showed that in election 2015, total numbers of voters were 618,364. In 2020, total registered voters are 745,361, which shows that 126997 fresh voters will poll their votes in favor of their candidates in upcoming general election of GB.
Overall District Diamer GB has more voters with a figure of 119452 than other districts of GB. While, district Nagir of GB has less voters among other districts of GB with a total figure of 37172 voters.
A total of 1,160 polling stations have been set up for GB elections, out of which 311 polling stations have been declared sensitive and 428 have been declared highly sensitive.
Fool proof security arrangements have been made for the elections. Around 10,000 police personnel from Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and local will perform the duties while, paramilitary forces will also be deployed.
In 2015, total number of voters in three Constituencies of district Gilgit were 99035 and now in 2020, total voters are118459.
In 2015, two constituencies of district Astore had 52151 voters while now in 2020, number of total registered voters are 62401.
In 2015, three constituencies of district Nagir (including Hunza, which was created as new district after 2015 election) had 67227 registered votes and in 2020, district Nagir has total registered voters are 80775 registered voters, including 43603 votes of district Hunza.
The Chief Secretary Gilgit Baltistan has announced three day holidays from today on the occasion of elections.
The local administration has directed to ensure implementation of standard operating procedures (SOPs) to prevent spread of coronavirus outbreak as voting for the general elections in Gilgit-Baltistan is underway today.
The polling staff and voters have been ordered to wear face masks and take other precautionary measures to curb covid-19 epidemic.
The security personnel have also been directed to implement SOPs.
Meanwhile, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Raja Shehbaz Khan has visited central control room established to monitor general elections in Gilgit-Baltistan.
The CEC inspected arrangements at the control room while Gilgit-Baltistan’s chief secretary also briefed him on the occasion.
Raja Shehbaz expressed satisfaction over the performance of the local administration in conducting the polls.
