G.BALTISTAN: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has unveiled the official list of candidates for the upcoming Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly elections scheduled for June 7, 2026. A total of 396 candidates are set to compete, with independents holding a dominant position.
According to the final roster, 266 candidates are running as independents, while 120 are representing various political parties. Notably, only eight women are participating in the elections, including five independents. The remaining women candidates are from the PPP, Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party, and Pakistan National Party.
Major parties in the race include the Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians, which has nominated 23 candidates, and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz with 22 contenders. Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam has fielded nine candidates, while Islami Tehreek Pakistan is contesting with 10 candidates. Jamaat-e-Islami and MQM have each nominated six candidates, with Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen fielding seven.
Other parties and their respective candidate counts include the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (15), Pakistan Nazariati Party (10), and Awami Workers Party (4). Several smaller parties are participating with single candidates, such as the Awami National Party, Awami Pakistan, Central Muslim League, Tehreek Tahafuz Pakistan, Sunni Ittehad Council, Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan, and PPP Tower Group.
Additionally, the Pakistan Muslim League has 11 candidates in the race, while the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid has nominated one candidate for the elections.
