Polling is underway on Saturday in the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly’s GB-9 (Skardu-III) constituency on Saturday, where PPP candidate Akhtar Abbas is facing independent candidate Wazir Saleem in a closely contested by-election. The polling began at 8am and will continue until 5pm. A total of 33, 689 voters are registered in the constituency, while stringent security measures have been put in place to ensure a peaceful polling process. Eleven of the constituency’s 54 polling stations have been declared highly sensitive, with enhanced security arrangements made at these locations. The GB-9 seat fell vacant following the disqualification of PPP lawmaker Haji Fida Muhammad Naushad.



