Gilgit-Baltistan: The Pakistan Peoples Party has called for the immediate announcement of the election schedule for the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly, as uncertainty persists four months after the legislature completed its tenure.
KSB Company expresses interest in PEBS community outreach program in Pakistan
General elections were initially scheduled for January 24, 2026, while long-delayed local government polls were set for February 14. However, both were postponed indefinitely due to severe winter weather across the region.
Chief Election Commissioner Raja Shehbaz Khan said the election body is preparing to hold the polls but has not yet finalised a date, adding that the public will be informed once a decision is made.
Despite earlier plans by the caretaker government to hold a multiparty conference in March to consult stakeholders, no progress has been made so far.
In a statement, the PPP’s GB chapter urged the election commission to immediately announce the schedule, stressing that timely elections are necessary for the political system to function in line with constitutional requirements. The party maintained that security conditions have improved and weather-related obstacles have eased.
Caretaker Information Minister Ghulam Abbas said announcing the election schedule falls within the mandate of the election commission, while the interim government would fully support efforts to ensure free, fair, and transparent polls.
Fears of Further Delay
Political parties remain uncertain about the timing of elections, with concerns that polls may not be held before June and could potentially be pushed to September or October. Religious observances, including Muharram, are also expected to limit the available window for conducting elections.
Sources indicate that the local chapter of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz is reluctant to hold elections under current circumstances, citing public dissatisfaction linked to recent fuel price hikes.
The delay has also been attributed to recent unrest in Skardu and Gilgit, where protests erupted following the reported killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli strikes. The demonstrations resulted in at least 20 deaths, including security personnel, and led to curfews in both cities.
A judicial commission has been formed to investigate the violence, and officials fear that potential legal action against those involved could trigger further unrest, contributing to delays in the election schedule.
Constitutional Requirement and Background
Under the Government of Gilgit-Baltistan Order, 2018, elections must be held within 60 days of the assembly completing its tenure. The last GB Assembly elections were held in November 2020, resulting in a government led by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.
Following the disqualification of former chief minister Khalid Khurshid in July 2023, a coalition government comprising PTI defectors, PPP, and PML-N came to power, with Haji Gulbar Khan as chief minister.
The assembly completed its five-year term on November 24, 2025, after which Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif appointed retired Justice Yar Muhammad as caretaker chief minister.
The continued delay in announcing a new election schedule has raised concerns among political stakeholders, who warn that the absence of an elected assembly is hampering governance and delaying key development decisions.
