PPP candidate Jamil Ahmed declared winner in Gilgit-II poll dispute

GILGIT: An election tribunal on Wednesday declared Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) candidate Jamil Ahmed the winner of the Gilgit-II constituency, annulling the victory of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) candidate Fatehullah Khan in the 2020 elections.

The tribunal’s ruling came in response to Jamil Ahmed’s allegations of electoral malpractice and vote rigging, culminating in a prolonged legal battle. Judge Raja Shakeel Ahmed announced the verdict, which had been reserved on October 10.

Judge Shakeel Ahmed ruled that Jamil Ahmed had been unjustly deprived of his victory due to irregularities in the election process. The tribunal acknowledged that significant discrepancies had occurred during the 2020 elections, including violations in the vote-counting procedure. The judge stated that Jamil Ahmed should have been declared the winner at the time, but the manipulation of the election results had prevented this.

In the 2020 general elections for the Gilgit-II constituency, Jamil Ahmed contested the seat on a PPP ticket, while his main opponent, Fatehullah Khan, represented PTI. Fatehullah Khan was declared the winner of the election. Jamil Ahmed challenged the results, citing widespread rigging and irregularities in the counting process. He claimed that election officials and staff, including the Returning Officer, were responsible for mishandling the process, depriving him of his rightful mandate.

The tribunal’s decision follows a series of legal battles that began shortly after the 2020 elections. Initially, Fatehullah Khan, who was declared the winner, went on to assume ministerial portfolios in the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly. However, Jamil Ahmed filed a petition challenging the election result, leading to an in-depth investigation and re-examination of the vote count.

In August 2023, the Gilgit-Baltistan Election Tribunal ruled in favor of Jamil Ahmed, arguing that the election had ended in a tie when the postal ballot papers were excluded. However, this decision was later challenged by Fatehullah Khan in the Gilgit-Baltistan Supreme Appellate Court. Fatehullah Khan contended that nearly 1,700 postal votes had not been counted and that the tribunal’s decision only considered general votes. The Supreme Appellate Court remanded the case back to the tribunal, ordering a forensic investigation of the postal ballot papers by NADRA to ensure their authenticity.

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After further review, including the forensic verification of postal ballots and thumb impressions by NADRA, the tribunal has now ruled in favor of Jamil Ahmed. The tribunal declared that the vote rigging and mismanagement during the counting process had unfairly tilted the election in favor of Fatehullah Khan, denying Jamil Ahmed his victory. With this decision, Jamil Ahmed is now the officially recognized winner of the Gilgit-II seat.

Speaking to the media after the verdict, Jamil Ahmed expressed his satisfaction with the tribunal’s decision, calling it a “historic verdict.” He accused Imran Khan, Gandapur, and their associates of stealing the 2020 election from him through fraudulent means. He added that they are now facing consequences in this world and will face them in the hereafter as well.

Jamil Ahmed emphasized that the courts of Gilgit-Baltistan have once again proven that, no matter how much oppression occurs, justice will prevail and the judiciary stands ready to safeguard it. He said that this message from the courts of Gilgit-Baltistan will resonate not only in Pakistan but across the world, proving that justice exists even in smaller, less visible regions.

He remarked that today’s decision sends a clear signal to those who attempt to manipulate the people’s mandate in future elections. The PPP leader expressed confidence that no one, whether a bureaucrat or an influential figure, will have the courage to interfere with the election process again. He asserted that the judiciary will remain steadfast in delivering justice.

Jamil Ahmed pointed out that the credibility of Gilgit-Baltistan’s courts would be acknowledged across Pakistan. He noted that everyone knew what had happened in the 2020 election and how forces had conspired to steal the people’s mandate, but now the truth had been proven. He said this verdict serves as a warning for anyone who might attempt such tactics in future elections, as justice will be served.

The PPP leader expressed full faith that the courts would continue to uphold their integrity in the future and ensure that the rights of the people are protected from electoral fraud and manipulation.