Polling started on Saturday at 61 polling stations in the GBA-09 (Skardu-III) constituency of Gilgit-Baltistan from 8 am to 5 pm amid tight security. State-run PTV said 33,985 registered voters are eligible to cast their vote in the by-election, with special security arrangements being made for the day.
Key Highlights
- Polling is underway at 61 stations from 8 am to 5 pm with 33,985 eligible voters.
- Constituency declares local holiday to help voters turn out
- PPP’s Fida Muhammad Nashad disqualified; by-election to be held
- Analysts expect close contest between PPP’s Akhtar Abbas and independent Mohammad Saleem
Holiday to increase voter turnout
The district magistrate Skardu has announced a holiday for the constituency on the day of elections. The official notification said the holiday was declared to enable eligible voters to exercise their right to vote and to help hold the polls smoothly and peacefully.
Polling is underway at 61 polling stations in the GBA-09 (Skardu-III) constituency amid tight security. The polling process began at 8am and will continue until 5pm.#DialoguePakistan #Polling #Underway #Skardu #Constituency #Security pic.twitter.com/3vq7brCYye
— Dialogue Pakistan (@DialoguePak) September 5, 2026
How This By-Election Occurred
The vote comes after a legal challenge to the original June general election result. The Gilgit-Baltistan Election Commission announced the by-election after the GB Supreme Appellate Court disqualified PPP candidate Fida Muhammad Nashad, who was declared the returned candidate for this seat in June.
Now, Nashad’s son Akhtar Abbas is contesting the seat on the PPP’s ticket, effectively continuing the family’s bid for the constituency. Mohammad Ajmal is contesting on a PML-N ticket. Independent candidate and former minister Mohammad Saleem is in the fray. As many as 10 candidates have filed their nomination papers for the seat.
Analysts see a close contest
Political observers say the real contest is expected to be between PPP’s Abbas and independent candidate Saleem. Analysts say Abbas may benefit from his father’s existing vote bank in the constituency and also win additional sympathy from voters after Nashad was disqualified by the courts.
Security arrangements reflect sensitivity of vote
The constituency’s 61 polling stations have been categorized on the basis of their sensitivity level ahead of the vote, district Returning Officer Hamza Murad told Dawn on Friday. Twenty-five stations were classified as Category A, the highest security classification. Category B has eleven medium-sensitive stations, and the remaining 25 stations are normal under Category C. This tiered security approach enables authorities to concentrate resources where they are needed most while providing standard coverage to the rest of the constituency.
