As the people of Gilgit-Baltistan head to the polls today to elect only the region’s third legislative assembly, the hopes of its outgoing ruling party seem anything but promising.

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, which secured a landslide victory with 16 directly-elected seats in the previous election held in 2015, appears to be struggling this time around. With 10 of its main regional leaders jumping ship to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, the chances of PML-N mounting a successful re-election bid appear highly unlikely.

In a stark reversal of fortunes, observers expect the PTI and the Pakistan Peoples Party to emerge as the main contenders in today’s polls, with a slight edge going to the former on account of its presence in the federal government. Both parties only secured a seat each in the 2015 election, although PPP, like the PML-N, did secure a landslide in the first polls for the G-B assembly.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2272315/pti-ppp-contest-shaping-up-as-g-b-heads-to-the-polls