The Gilgit-Baltistan Election Commission has directed that results of the June 7 elections must not be consolidated until re-polling is completed in five constituencies, it emerged on Tuesday.
In a circular issued to the relevant returning officers on June 8, the commission said re-polling had been ordered at certain polling stations in Skardu-II (GBA-8), Astore-I (GBA-13), Diamer-I (GBA-15), Diamer-II (GBA-16), and Diamer-III (GBA-17).
The Election Commission observed that the “process of consolidation of results under the relevant provisions of the Elections Act, 2017 and Elections Rules, 2017 shall be completed only after inclusion of the results of the re-polled polling stations in the constituency-wise result”.
The commission also instructed returning officers not to “open, scrutinise or count the postal ballots and not to finalise, consolidate, announce or issue the final result of your respective constituency until the completion of re-polling at the polling stations specified”.