• Rejects rigging allegations. says elections were transparent, peaceful• 10 petition hearings completed; rest to be completed as per schedule• PPP, PML-N trade barbs over poll results• Kaira warns against attempt to ‘steal’ mandate
GILGIT / LAHORE: Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Election Commissioner Raja Shahbaz Khan has rejectedallegationsof rigging in the June 7 generalelectionsand said decisions on pending election petitions will be announced on Monday.
According to a statement, the GB chief election commissioner said the general elections were held in a clean, transparent, peaceful. impartial manner, and that the GB Election Commission had fulfilled all constitutional and legal requirements.
He said that under Section 89 of the Elections Act. 2017, decisions on all pending election petitions would be made within the prescribed legal period.
The chief election commissioner said election petitions from various constituencies had started to be received after the polls on June 8. were being heard under the Elections Act.
“So far. the hearing of 10 election petitions has been completed, while the hearing of the remaining petitions will also be completed as per schedule,” he said.
He said all petitioners and lawyers of the parties were given a full opportunity and their arguments were heard carefully. The Election Commission would take all decisions in the light of the law. available evidence so that every rightful person gets their right, he added.
He said Form-45 was provided to polling agents of candidates in accordance with election laws at all polling stations. the election process was conducted with complete transparency.
PPP, PML-N trade barbs
Meanwhile, the PML-N. PPP are bickering over the results of the Gilgit-Baltistan polls and formation of the government, with the latter urging the GB chief election commissioner to ensure that the peaceful electoral process is not undermined by “controversial decisions”.
PML-N leader Khawaja Saad Rafique, who was tasked by the party leadership with electioneering in the June 7 GB polls, taunted the PPP on X on Saturday, saying the PML-N’s objective was to protect Gilgit-Baltistan from horse-trading. political bargaining.
“Despite this. there was neither any justification then nor is there now for the PPP leadership to engage in accusations against the party of the Sharifs or adopt a disrespectful attitude towards it,” he said.
PPP senior leader. former GB governor Kamar Zaman Kaira responded strongly and indirectly accused the PML-N of manipulation in the GB polls and afterwards. He also warned against any attempt to “steal” the PPP’s mandate.
“While the party leadership was congratulating us on our victory, certain ministers. local political actors were busy attempting to alter the election results. History bears witness to who the true masters of manipulating election outcomes are,” Mr Kaira said in a post on X.
“Had we not protested on election day. raised the issue in the media over the denial of Form-45, Form-47 would never have been issued. Otherwise, the stage had already been set for the familiar game of Forms 46 and 47,” Mr Kaira said.
The PPP leader also rejected the PML-N’s claim regarding the support of two independent candidates. saying it was contrary to facts.
On the other hand, Mr Rafique advised the Sharifs to let the PML-N sit on the opposition benches in GB. He said the PPP had secured approximately 28 per cent of the vote. while the PML-N received 22pc in the GB polls.
“According to preliminary unofficial results, the PPP won 10 seats and the PML-N won six seats. Two independent candidates were also backed by the PML-N,” Mr Rafique claimed.
“Those who used every possible tactic to gain control of Karachi’s local government. later backed away from commitments made to MQM under our guarantee cannot taunt the PML-N about government formation in Lahore,” he added.
Published in Dawn, June 14th, 2026
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