GILGIT: The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has emerged as the largest political party in the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly elections, securing 10 of the 24 general seats, according to unofficial and preliminary results released after polling on June 7.
While PPP has taken the lead, the party remains short of the numbers required to form a government on its own, making independent candidates crucial in the government formation process.
According to the unofficial results, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) secured six seats, while PTI-backed independent candidates won two seats. Other independent candidates claimed five seats, while Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) secured one seat in Skardu.
Unofficial party position
| Party | Seats Won |
|---|---|
| PPP | 10 |
| PML-N | 6 |
| PTI-backed Independents | 2 |
| Other Independents | 5 |
| MWM | 1 |
Government formation likely to depend on independents
The Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly consists of 33 seats, including 24 directly elected general seats, six reserved seats for women, and three reserved technocrat seats.
A party or coalition requires 17 seats to secure a majority in the assembly. With no party reaching that threshold on general seats alone, independents are expected to play a decisive role in coalition-building and government formation.
Reserved seats will be allocated through proportional representation based on the final strength of parties in the assembly, which could alter the overall composition of the house.
Key constituencies
According to the preliminary results, PPP secured victories in several constituencies, including Gilgit-I, Nagar-I, Nagar-II, Skardu-I, Skardu-III, Skardu-IV, Kharmang, Shigar, Darel, and Ghizer-I.
PML-N won seats in Gilgit-II, Astore-I, Astore-II, Tangir, Ghizer-II, and Ghanche-I.
MWM secured victory in GBA-8 Skardu.
PPP eyes government formation
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said the party would seek to form the next government in Gilgit-Baltistan following its performance in the elections.
The Election Commission has yet to issue final official results, and the overall balance of power may change after the allocation of reserved seats and completion of the official notification process.
Also Read: Vote counting begins after polling concludes in Gilgit-Baltistan elections
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