Exclusive: why Astore-1 by-election results withheld, reveals GB Chief Election Commissioner

Zafar Ali Khan

ISLAMABAD: Just a day after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) candidate Khurshid Khan emerged victorious in the by-election for the Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly (GBLA-13) Astore-1, the G-B Chief Election Commissioner issued a notification, halting the announcement of official results until September 14.

In an exclusive interview with HUM News English, G-B Chief Election Commissioner Raja Shahbaz Khan disclosed that the decision to withhold the election results was made under Section 9 of the election rules, “which empowers the election commission to delay the results in response to complaints lodged by contesting candidates.”

When asked about his earlier public statement that the by-elections were held peacefully and fairly, Raja Shahbaz explained that complaints had been lodged by the contesting candidates, alleging some irregularities, after Form 15 was issued.

Further pressed on the appropriateness of withholding results, given that the election tribunal is the designated forum for addressing such complaints, and that the election commission typically cannot withhold results after the issuance of Form 45 – a document provided to polling agents detailing the number of valid votes for each contesting candidate and the ballot papers – Raja Shahbaz clarified that Form 45 does not constitute the final result. He emphasized that only the returning officer is authorized to compile and officially announce the result (under Form 48) based on the findings of Form 45 and Form 47.

Responding to a query regarding Form 47, which was displayed at the presiding officer’s office on Sunday that indicated the highest number of votes garnered by Khurshid Khan, the chief election commissioner clarified that it was displayed by the presiding officer, not the returning officer – who serves as the ultimate authority for declaring the official result.

When asked if there was any pressure from powers that be to delay the result, he dismissed such speculations, asserting that “the election commissioner is all in all, and we don’t take orders.”

When asked concerns were being raised about potential law and order issues if the election results were withheld for an extended period, given the frustration expressed by winning candidates’ supporters on social media, Raja Shahbaz assured that such a scenario would not materialize, as he had summoned all stakeholders to address their complaints at the office of the presiding officer in Astore on September 14.

According to the list initially issued by the returning officer on Monday, PTI candidate Khurshid Khan secured 6,164 votes, while PML-N’s Rana Farman Ali garnered 4,825 votes, and PPP’s candidate Abdul Hameed Khan received 4,125 votes in the by-election for GBLA-13 Astore-1. The electoral race featured a total of 14 candidates, including nine independent contenders.

Web Desk