ANFREL member in Pakistan, the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN), released the preliminary election observation report of the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly elections held on 15 November 2020.

FAFEN said the Election Day was largely peaceful with no major incidents of violence reported from anywhere in the region throughout the day. E-Day was generallty orderly, with voting and counting processes at the polling station conducted mostly according to the law and prescribed rules.

FAFEN deployed 529 non-partisan observers, including 496 election day observers and 33 long-term observers. On Election Day, FAFEN observers were able to visit 436 polling stations in 23 constituencies.

FAFEN said in the preliminary report that the process was transparent with the presence of polling agents and independent candidates. Media and observer groups including FAFEN were allowed to cover and observe the proceedings on Election Day without any incidents of restrictions reported.

As the elections were held amid the second wave of COVID-19 in Pakistan, FAFEN said the Election Commission of Gilgit-Baltistan (ECGB) made efforts to implement COVID-19 Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the safety of polling officials and voters.

FAFEN said 77.8 percent of the polling stations they observed adopted preventive measures in compliance with the SOPs to varying degrees while 12.6 percent did not comply.

Three hundred twenty candidates contested the elections for 23 seats in the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly.

Know more about the findings of FAFEN: "Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly Elections Preliminary Election Observation Report"