PoK's Gilgit-Baltistan heading for coalition govt

Islamabad, Jun 8 (PTI) Pakistan-occupied Kashmir's Gilgit-Baltistan region was poised for a coalition government as none of the parties could win a majority in the so-called legislative assembly elections, according to media reports on Monday. President Asif Ali Zardari's Pakistan Peoples Party has secured nine seats, followed by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) with six seats. Five independent candidates have won the polls, Geo News reported, citing unofficial results. Jailed former premier Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party was ahead in two seats, while their ally, the Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen, was leading in one, Dawn reported. The so-called assembly has a total of 33 seats -- 24 of which are contested through direct elections, which were held on Sunday, while another eight are reserved for women, technocrats and professionals. India has lodged a strong protest with Pakistan over the elections to the so-called Gilgit-Baltistan assembly, maintaining that the region is Indian territory that has been "illegally and forcibly" occupied. India reiterated its well-known position that the entire Union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, including the so-called 'Gilgit-Baltistan' are integral and inalienable parts of India as a result of "complete, legal and irrevocable accession" of Jammu and Kashmir to India in 1947. PTI SH ZH ZH