Skardu: Elections to the vacant GBA 09 (Skardu 3) seat began at 8 am this morning amid tight security. According to state broadcaster PTV, 33895 registered voters will have the chance to participate at 61 polling stations across the constituency

The GBA 09 seat became vacant in The by election comes after Gilgit Baltistan (GB) Supreme Appellate Court disqualified PPP candidate Fida Muhammad Nashad, who won as a returning candidate in the June elections to the GB legislative assembly.

Currently his son Akhtar Abbas will contest elections on the PPP’s ticket, while Mohammad Ajmal is contesting from the PML-N. Former minister Mohammad Saleem is contesting as an independent. There are 10 candidates who have filed their nomination papers for this by election.

Analysts said a close contest was expected between Abbas and independent candidate Saleem. and that the former could retain his father’s vote bank and may benefit from public sympathy following Nashad’s disqualification by the Supreme Appellate Court.

Polling will continue through till 5 pm today.