GB Elections: Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly
In a political scene that has now gone viral across Pakistani social media and news platforms,
the general elections for the Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly concluded on Sunday, June 7, 2026. While the voting process across 24 contested seats remained physically peaceful under tight security arrangements, a fierce political storm erupted immediately after the ballot boxes were closed. Major opposition parties, including the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), have raised serious allegations of systematic rigging and institutional manipulation against the federal administration.
The highly anticipated GB elections 2026 took place after an unavoidable four-month delay caused by the region's harsh winter conditions. Polling officially started at 8:00 AM and concluded at 5:00 PM under strict surveillance. To ensure security in the mountainous terrain, 6,000 personnel from the Punjab Police and 2,000 from the Islamabad Police were deployed across 1,391 polling stations, hundreds of which had been categorized as sensitive or highly sensitive.
As the counting began, the PPP leadership immediately held emergency press conferences to denounce the transparency of the process. PPP Secretary General Nayyar Hussain Bukhari and spokesperson Shazia Marri formally complained that their polling agents were being denied Form-45, which is the official document recording the initial vote counts. The PPP further alleged that voter lists were tampered with, and key polling stations were illegally relocated overnight to undermine their vote bank. They specifically highlighted the relocation of the Balachi polling station in Astore-II, which caused local residents to block the main Gilgit-Skardu Road in protest.
Simultaneously, the PTI—whose candidates are contesting as independents aligned with the Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen (MWM) because they lack an electoral symbol—echoed similar concerns. The party issued a statement claiming that while their candidates were leading early in the evening, subsequent results from specific stations suddenly showed an impossibly high voter turnout exceeding 80 percent. PTI leaders accused the administration of refusing to hand over Form-46 and claimed that rival political workers were caught with fake ballot papers in regions like Nagar.
On the other hand, the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) dismissed these allegations as political frustration. Former Chief Minister Hafiz Hafeezur Rehman, who is contesting from GBA-2, expressed full faith in the electoral process, stating that his party had run a highly successful campaign promising structural development, road networks, and an end to load-shedding. The PML-N shared videos of lively crowds at their election camps, contrasting them with what they termed "deserted" opposition camps.
A total of 396 candidates, including a massive contingent of 266 independent contenders, competed for the 24 directly elected seats of the 33-member assembly. Despite the surrounding political controversies, the Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Election Commissioner, Raja Shahbaz Khan, insisted that the environment remained completely satisfactory, praising the high turnout of female voters as a positive indicator of democratic awareness in the region. The ultimate fate of the GB government now rests upon the official verification of these contested results.
According to GEO News
In a political scene that has now gone viral across Pakistani social media and news platforms,
the general elections for the Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly concluded on Sunday, June 7, 2026, marking a monumental democratic exercise in the region. Voting across 24 contested seats commenced smoothly at 8:00 AM and continued uninterrupted until the closing hours at 5:00 PM. While the physical polling process remained orderly under stringent security deployments, an intense political debate erupted as early unofficial results started pouring in, accompanied by severe rigging allegations from the opposition parties.
The highly anticipated GB elections 2026 saw a massive electoral participation, with a total of 963,034 registered voters out of which 566,097 were male and 396,937 were female voters. According to official records, 403 candidates—including 396 men and 8 women—actively took part in the democratic race. To facilitate voters across the rugged mountainous terrain, the Election Commission established 1,391 polling stations. Recognizing regional security dynamics, authorities classified 488 stations as normal, 349 as sensitive, and 551 as highly sensitive, maintaining a strict vigil throughout the day.
To guarantee a transparent and safe voting environment, an extensive security apparatus was mobilized. Gilgit-Baltistan Inspector General of Police Nasir Akbar Khan confirmed that over 17,500 security personnel were deployed at various polling facilities. This strategic force included local police units, the Gilgit-Baltistan Scouts, and additional reinforcements from the Punjab and Sindh police divisions. Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Election Commissioner Raja Shahbaz Khan personally conducted field visits to multiple constituencies to ensure operational efficiency, later declaring that the entire voting process was achieved in a fully satisfactory and peaceful atmosphere.
According to preliminary and unofficial statistics received shortly after counting commenced, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) established an early lead by securing victories in four major constituencies. Notable triumphs for the PPP included Muhammad Ali Akhtar winning GBA-4 Nagar-I with 7,670 votes, Syed Taqeer Mehdi securing GBA-7 Skardu-I with 4,500 votes, Fida Muhammad capturing GBA-9 Skardu-III with 6,314 votes, and Imran Nadeem sweeping GBA-12 Shigar with an impressive 11,663 votes. Meanwhile, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) secured GBA-22 Ghanche-I where Muhammad Ibrahim Sanai won with 9,308 votes, alongside independent candidates claiming key positions in GBA-3 Gilgit-III and GBA-24 Ghanche-III.
Despite their lead, senior leaders of the Pakistan Peoples Party expressed deep reservations regarding administrative transparency. PPP Parliamentarians' Secretary General Nayyer Hussain Bukhari and veteran leader Qamar Zaman Kaira publicly criticized the alarming delays in issuing Form-45, claiming that party representatives were being systematically forced out of counting areas. Furthermore, PPP's Nadeem Afzal Chan leveled serious accusations of "electoral engineering" against the federal administration, alleging that two sitting federal ministers were actively pressuring local presiding officers to alter the authentic mandate.
Responding to the escalating political friction, Chief Election Commissioner Raja Shahbaz Khan issued immediate, strict directives to Returning Officers across all 24 constituencies. He explicitly ordered that verified Form-45 results must be issued without delay at all stations where counting had concluded, ensuring compliance with the Elections Act 2017. As political parties continue to monitor the final tally, the overall political map of the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly rests entirely on the official verification of these closely watched electoral results.
According to Berecorder
In a political scene that has now gone viral across Pakistani social media and news platforms,
the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of Gilgit-Baltistan, Raja Shahbaz Khan, made an impassioned appeal to the public ahead of the highly anticipated general elections for 24 assembly seats. Emphasizing the vital importance of the democratic process, the CEC underscored the profound need for a peaceful, secure, and massive voter turnout to shape the administrative and political future of the mountainous region.
Speaking exclusively to the national broadcaster PTV News, CEC Raja Shahbaz Khan highlighted that exercising the constitutional right to vote is not merely a legal entitlement but a foundational civic responsibility. He urged registered voters from all walks of life, particularly young adults and women, to step out in substantial numbers to champion the cause of democracy through active electoral participation. According to the chief election officer, every individual ballot cast holds immense weight in reinforcing local democratic institutions and ensuring sustainable governance.
Addressing administrative preparedness, the Chief Election Commissioner reassured the public that the Election Commission had diligently finalized all mandatory logistical, security, and institutional arrangements. He affirmed that no stone had been left unturned to guarantee that the entire polling exercise would remain completely free, fair, transparent, and peaceful. The extensive layout was designed to provide a completely hassle-free environment for citizens traveling long distances across difficult geographic terrains to reach their designated booths.
In addition to administrative transparency, the CEC directed a strong message toward maintaining public order. He requested local communities, political workers, and independent contenders to behave with utmost civic maturity and to play a constructive, cooperative role with law enforcement agencies during the polling phase. Characterizing public participation as the definitive cornerstone of a vibrant, progressive democratic system, he called on the residents of Gilgit-Baltistan to fulfill their duties with deep national commitment and unwavering patriotism.