ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari approved the schedule for the upcoming general elections in Gilgit Baltistan on Friday, as per an official notification.
The announcement confirmed that elections for the Gilgit Baltistan Assembly are set to take place on January 24, 2026.
After receiving the president’s approval, Chief Election Commissioner Abid Ali stated that the Election Commission of Gilgit Baltistan will soon release a detailed election schedule. He also mentioned that the commission plans to call an all-parties conference to consult with key political stakeholders.
The Gilgit Baltistan Assembly was dissolved on November 24 upon completing its five-year term, which subsequently resulted in the dissolution of Chief Minister Haji Gulbar Khan and his cabinet.
Justice (retired) Yar Muhammad Nasir, a former judge of the Gilgit Baltistan Chief Court, has been appointed as the caretaker chief minister of the region.
Notably, the previous elections for the Gilgit Baltistan Assembly were conducted in November 2020 across 24 constituencies. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) emerged victorious and formed the government, with Khalid Khurshid assuming office as chief minister.
However, in July 2023, the Gilgit Baltistan Chief Court disqualified Khalid Khurshid from his position as chief minister. Subsequently, a coalition comprising members from PTI’s dissenting faction, along with the PPP and PML-N, formed a new government and elected Haji Gulbar Khan as the region’s new chief minister.
