The ruling Pakistan People’s Party was in the lead in unofficial results announced for the Gilgit-Baltistan election on Friday, but opposition parties have accused the government of rigging the first Legislative Assembly election in the remote region.
The Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) and the Muslim League (Qauid) staged a walk-out from the National Assembly in protest against alleged rigging of the polls.
Official results are to be announced on Saturday. According to unofficial results for 20 seats, PPP has won 11 seats. The PML(N) got two seats, while the PML(Q) and MQM and the JUI(F) won a seat each. Four independent candidates also won.
Results for three constituencies have been withheld after incidents of violence were reported from some polling stations. Two people were killed in a clash on election day in the Diamir region, the incident marring an otherwise peaceful poll and leading to the suspension of voting in some places on Thursday.
Voting in those polling stations was held on Friday.
In the National Assembly, Leader of the Opposition Chaudhary Nisar Ahmed alleged that the government had used state resources to influence voters and accused it of violating the spirit of democracy.
A large number of government functionaries camped in Gilgit-Baltistan to influence voters, he alleged. The PML(N) and PML(Q) staged a token walk-out for half-an-hour and returned to the House.
Responding to the allegation, Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani said it had become a habit to level this allegation and described as a positive development the participation of all parties in the election.
