Coordinated efforts ensured peaceful Gilgit-Baltistan elections despite challenges: Police chief

ISLAMABAD: Gilgit-Baltistan witnessed peaceful, free and fair elections with excellent law and order despite major logistical and security challenges, Inspector General of Police Dr Akbar Nasir Khan said, crediting coordinated efforts of multiple law enforcement agencies and early planning for ensuring smooth polling across the region.

Voting was held on Sunday for 24 directly-elected seats in the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly, the region’s legislative body, which governs one of the world’s most mountainous areas.

Speaking to Pakistan TV, Inspector General of Police of Gilgit-Baltistan Dr Akbar Nasir Khan said the region’s difficult terrain, harsh weather and security sensitivities made the electoral exercise highly complex, but extensive coordination between federal and provincial authorities helped ensure a “flawless” and uninterrupted polling process.

He said over 1,400 polling stations, more than half of them sensitive or highly sensitive, were secured through the deployment of police from across provinces alongside civil armed forces and the Pakistan Army.

“The first priority was the safety of every citizen, and Alhamdulillah, no casualties were reported,” he continued.

“A key challenge highlighted during the election process was the coordination and mobilization of a large, multi-agency security deployment across remote and difficult terrain, where access to many polling stations required significant logistical effort,” he added.

The top security official said that detailed threat assessments were carried out for each polling station in advance, allowing authorities to ensure targeted security arrangements, which helped maintain stability even in previously sensitive or high-risk areas.