Tight Security, Tight Race: PPP Leads in Skardu By‑Election

Gilgit‑Baltistan’s Skardu district saw a flurry of activity on Saturday as voters turned up at 61 polling stations to decide who will represent constituency GBA‑09 (Skardu‑III). The atmosphere was a mix of excitement and tension – the latter mostly because the election commission deployed more than 800 police officers, plus GB Scouts, to keep the peace.

According to the unofficial tallies released late Saturday night, PPP candidate Akhtar Abbas Nashad is in the driver’s seat. He has amassed 8,040 votes, putting him 455 votes ahead of his main rival, independent hopeful Wazir Mohammad Saleem, who gathered 7,585 votes.

The by‑election was called after the GB Supreme Appellate Court struck down the June general‑election result of PPP’s Fida Muhammad Nashad – the late politician’s son, Akhtar Abbas, stepped into his father’s shoes and campaigned on a platform of continuity and sympathy.

Out of a total of 33,985 registered voters – 17,658 men and 15,868 women – a respectable number turned out, reflecting the local holiday that the Skardu district magistrate announced specially to “facilitate eligible voters in exercising their right to franchise.”

In addition to PPP’s Akhtar Abbas, the ballot featured ten other candidates, including PML‑N’s Mohammad Ajmal and former minister Mohammad Saleem, who chose to run as an independent. Analysts had already warned that the race would be tight, noting that the Nashad family’s vote bank might stay loyal and that public sentiment could swing in their favour after the disqualification drama.

Security classifications for the polling stations were also disclosed by District Returning Officer Hamza Murad. Of the 61 centres, 25 were flagged as Category A – the most sensitive – 11 fell under Category B (medium‑sensitive), and the remaining 25 were deemed normal (Category C). Despite these designations, the voting process was reported to be largely smooth and peaceful.

When the results are finally certified, they will determine who will sit in the Gilgit‑Baltistan Assembly for the remainder of the term. For now, the numbers suggest a narrow but clear lead for the PPP, and the political drama in Skardu is far from over.