PTI, PPP to battle in GB election; PML-N out of race: surveys

The upcoming elections in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) will see a strong contest between the ruling party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), whereas Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) seems to be out of the race.

This was revealed in two surveys conducted by Gallup Pakistan and Pulse Consultant. Gallup Pakistan asked the respondents who they will be voting for on November 15. 27% responded that they would vote for PTI, 24% said PPP, and 14 % said PML-N.

Similarly, Pulse Consultant survey revealed 35% would vote for PTI, 26% said PPP and 14% said PML-N. Gallup Pakistan and Pulse Consultant survey show a gap of 3 % and 9% respectively between the PTI and PPP. But both results reveal that PTI is the first choice, PPP second and PML-N third.

The surveys also show that Prime Minister Imran Khan is the most popular leader in GB followed by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Nawaz Sharif. While Gallup Pakistan survey revealed only 3 percent named Maryam Nawaz as the most favourite leader.

As per the Gallup survey, 31% said elections would be completely fair, 29% said they would be fair to some extent, 28% said they could not say anything. Meanwhile, 7 percent said elections will be fair to some extent while 5 percent said they would not be fair at all.

As per the Gallup survey, 66% of GB locals are in favour of converting GB into a province, while 28% were against it.