GILGIT: A total of 693 individuals have submitted their nomination papers for the upcoming general elections in Gilgit-Baltistan, set to be held on June 7, 2026, as announced by the Election Commission of Pakistan.
The data released by the commission’s media wing reveals vigorous participation across all 24 electoral constituencies, pointing to a highly competitive political landscape ahead of the polls. Notably, Gilgit-2 recorded the highest number of candidates with 65 nominations, followed by Astore-2 with 57, and Ghizer-2 with 42. Conversely, Diamer-4 saw the fewest candidates, with only 12 submitting their papers.
Other key constituencies, including Nagar-1, Hunza, and Skardu-1, each saw 38 candidates, while Karmang attracted 39 hopefuls, reflecting strong electoral interest throughout the region.
The Election Commission described the response as encouraging, emphasizing active political engagement among different parties and independent candidates.
According to the election timetable, the scrutiny of nomination papers is scheduled to conclude by April 28. Any appeals related to nominations will be resolved by May 9, and candidates wishing to withdraw their nominations can do so by May 11.
The allocation of election symbols will take place on May 12, and voting across all 24 constituencies is scheduled for June 7.The Chief Election Commissioner assured that all necessary arrangements for a smooth electoral process have been put in place, and that efforts are being made to ensure a peaceful election with the cooperation of relevant authorities.
Originally, the elections were planned for January 24, 2026, but the date was postponed due to severe weather conditions in the region.
