More than 158,000 registered voters in Diamer district are preparing to cast their ballots in four constituencies as Gilgit-Baltistan heads to elections on Sunday. To ensure a secure polling environment, authorities have implemented stringent security measures, including the enforcement of Section 144 and the deployment of additional law enforcement personnel.
Diamer’s total registered voter count stands at 158,714, comprising 81,655 men and 77,059 women. Voting will take place across 174 polling stations and 380 polling booths spread throughout the district.
Security remains a top priority, with 119 polling stations designated as highly sensitive, 22 as sensitive, and only 33 classified as normal. The constituency with the largest voter base is GBA-16 Diamer-II (Chilas), housing 46,282 voters, followed by GBA-15 Diamer-I (Chilas) with 44,526 voters. GBA-17 Diamer-III (Darel) has 41,045 voters, while GBA-18 Diamer-IV (Tangir) includes 26,861 voters.
In terms of polling station distribution, GBA-15 will have 52 stations, including 22 highly sensitive, 12 sensitive, and 18 normal. GBA-16 will feature 44 stations, with 19 classified as highly sensitive and 10 as sensitive. Notably, all polling stations in Darel (46 stations) and Tangir (32 stations) have been declared highly sensitive due to increased security concerns.
In a significant development, the Election Commission has officially ended all campaigning activities as per its code of conduct, prohibiting any political campaigning after midnight before election day. On Saturday, political parties and candidates focused on finalizing preparations while efforts were made to facilitate the return of Diamer residents living outside the district to participate in the vote.
To strengthen security, approximately 5,000 Punjab Police personnel have been deployed to Gilgit-Baltistan to support local law enforcement agencies during the elections.
Meanwhile, District Magistrate Lieutenant (Retd) Muhammad Owais has imposed Section 144 across Diamer for 60 days. This order enforces a ban on the public display of weapons, aerial firing, and the use of firecrackers. Additionally, the operation of drones, quadcopters, and other unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is prohibited throughout the district.
The administration has also mandated that individuals must obtain a written No Objection Certificate (NOC) from relevant authorities to carry weapons or operate drones. Exceptions to these restrictions apply only to police and law enforcement officials performing official duties.
The District Police Officer has been tasked with ensuring strict enforcement of these orders, while assistant commissioners and sub-divisional magistrates are responsible for disseminating information about the restrictions in Chilas, Darel, and Tangir. Copies of the orders have been shared with election officials, including returning officers and the Gilgit-Baltistan Election Commissioner, to guarantee a peaceful and orderly election process across the district.
