Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government spokesperson Shafi Jan has claimed that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is leading in the Gilgit-Baltistan elections based on Form 45 results, according to statements made during a media briefing in Peshawar.
Read More: GB polling concludes peacefully: PPP, PML-N and PTI claim leads
Shafi Jan said that according to Form 45 data, PTI candidates are ahead in several constituencies, adding that the party has maintained this position since the initial phase of vote counting. He also commented on opposing parties, saying that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) was now referencing Form 45, despite PTI consistently raising concerns about electoral transparency from the beginning.
The spokesperson further stated that senior PTI leader Mian Shafi Jan would hold discussions after meeting party leadership, while asserting that the provincial leadership in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa continues to operate with the confidence of the party’s central leadership. He added that Chief Minister Sohail Afridi remains in office with the approval of the party founder and will continue in his position as long as required.
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar, in a separate media interaction, raised questions about the role of the Election Commission, asking why the institution was emphasizing the distribution of Form 45s. He argued that it was the responsibility of election authorities to ensure that presiding officers properly issue official result forms during the electoral process.
Barrister Gohar also alleged that interference occurred during the election campaign in Gilgit-Baltistan, claiming that government officials participated in campaigning activities. He further stated that PTI candidates who win seats in the region would not switch political affiliations after the results.
He added that PTI was not given a fair opportunity to campaign effectively and claimed that the party was expected to secure a large number of seats based on public support. According to him, despite limited campaigning opportunities, PTI still maintained strong backing from voters in the region.
Read More: PPP takes early lead in Gilgit–Baltistan elections
Election results in Gilgit-Baltistan remain under review as unofficial counts continue to emerge from various constituencies.