The Gilgit-Baltistan Election Tribunal, while announcing its final verdict on the election petition regarding constituency GBA-16 Diamer-II, declared Attaullah, son of Wahab Shah, the successful candidate. Dismissing the objections raised by Respondent No. 1, the Tribunal directed the Chief Election Commissioner of Gilgit-Baltistan to issue a formal notification of Attaullah’s victory.
In its ruling, the Election Tribunal—presided over by Justice Mushtaq Muhammad—noted that on September 18, 2026, the Supreme Appellate Court of Gilgit-Baltistan had dismissed the election appeal filed by Respondent No. 1, thereby upholding the Tribunal’s decision dated September 11, 2026. The Supreme Appellate Court had directed the Tribunal to issue a final order after taking into consideration the genuine grievances of the contesting candidate.
According to the verdict, the Returning Officer had issued notices to all concerned parties on September 11, summoning them for the counting and verification of postal ballot papers and the preparation of the final result on September 13; however, Respondents No. 1 and 2 failed to participate in the proceedings, either personally or through authorized representatives.
The Tribunal ruled that if any party had objections regarding the record, counting, or verification process of the postal ballot papers, they should have been present during the proceedings to place their objections on record before the Returning Officer. Raising objections to the proceedings at a later stage is not permissible.
The verdict further stated that no evidence of tampering or alteration regarding the postal ballot paper records had come to light. According to the tribunal, the record was found to be intact, in proper condition, and sealed.
Accepting the election petition and upholding the process completed by the Returning Officer on September 13, 2026—as well as the final consolidated result prepared by him—the Election Tribunal declared Attaullah, son of Wahab Shah, the successful candidate for constituency GBA-16 Diamer-II.
Under the order, the Chief Election Commissioner of Gilgit-Baltistan has been directed to issue a formal notification declaring the success of Attaullah, son of Wahab Shah, pursuant to Section 98 of the Elections Act, 2017, based on the final consolidated result of September 13 recorded in Form 49.
The tribunal also set aside the earlier notification issued on June 19, 2026, to the extent that it had declared Respondent No. 1 the successful candidate for constituency GBA-16 Diamer-II.
Thus, following the Election Tribunal’s final verdict, the election result for constituency GBA-16 Diamer-II has been altered, and Attaullah, son of Wahab Shah, has been declared the successful candidate.
Share this content:
