Voting kicked off on Sunday in the GBA-12 Shigar constituency as residents joined others across Gilgit-Baltistan to elect members to the regional assembly. Early morning saw a steady flow of voters, both men and women, arriving at polling stations to exercise their democratic right.
The constituency has 46,594 registered voters eligible to cast their ballots. Election officials have set up 71 polling stations to accommodate the electorate, with nine candidates competing for the assembly seat.
In a significant development, authorities have deployed around 500 personnel from Punjab Police alongside district police and other law enforcement agencies to maintain order and ensure a smooth voting process. Special security protocols are in place at sensitive and highly sensitive polling locations, with additional forces stationed at these critical points and strict surveillance ongoing.
Meanwhile, the polling is proceeding peacefully, with voters patiently queuing to cast their votes. The process is scheduled to continue without interruption until 5pm, after which the vote counting will commence.