Pakistan, June 8 -- The elections in Gilgit-Baltistan have concluded without major violence, but the real test of the exercise begins after the last vote has been cast. The region voted for 24 directly contested seats after a four-month delay, with a large field of candidates, heavy security and the familiar promises of constitutional rights, development, employment and ownership of local resources, while unofficial results had started to pour in by the time of writing.

That polling day passed peacefully is welcome. However, in a region where representation has long existed under the shadow of constitutional ambiguity, peace at the polling station is only the first condition of legitimacy. The allegations raised by the PPP after polling ...