Gilgit-Baltistan Votes to Elect New Assembly as Polling Continues

Polling is underway across Gilgit-Baltistan on Sunday for elections to the region’s 24 general assembly seats, with voters casting their ballots from 8:00am to 5:00pm.

The election will determine the composition of the 33-member Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly and shape the region’s next government. A political party or alliance will need the support of at least 17 members to secure a simple majority and form the government.

According to the Election Commission of Gilgit-Baltistan, more than 958,000 registered voters are eligible to participate in the electoral process. The voter list includes 503,772 men and 454,708 women.

Over 400 Candidates Contesting Elections

A total of 403 candidates are contesting the elections across 24 constituencies, including 396 male candidates and eight female candidates.

Among the major political parties, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has fielded 23 candidates, while the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is contesting 22 seats. The Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) has nominated candidates for 15 constituencies, followed by the Pakistan Muslim League (PML) with 11 candidates.

The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) has entered the race with nine candidates, while the Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) has fielded seven candidates. Jamaat-e-Islami and MQM-Pakistan are contesting six seats each. In addition, 266 independent candidates are participating in the elections.

Assembly Structure and Government Formation

The Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly consists of 33 seats, including 24 directly elected seats, six reserved seats for women, and three seats reserved for technocrats.

Once the election results are finalized, reserved seats will be allocated according to electoral rules, and the party or coalition securing at least 17 seats will be able to form the next regional government.

Tight Security Arrangements Across Region

Authorities have implemented extensive security measures to ensure peaceful polling throughout Gilgit-Baltistan. Security personnel, including local police, Gilgit-Baltistan Scouts, and Punjab Police officers, have been deployed at polling stations and key locations.

Officials said approximately 10,000 Punjab Police personnel have been assigned election duties in the region, while an additional 1,400 officers have been deployed in Islamabad to assist local law enforcement agencies.

Security forces also conducted flag marches in several constituencies ahead of polling day. Election officials confirmed that polling materials and staff were successfully delivered to all polling stations.

Authorities have reiterated that voters must present valid national identity cards to cast their ballots and warned that any attempt to prevent women from voting will result in legal action.

Polling Stations Classified by Security Level

Gilgit district has the highest number of polling stations, with 253 locations established for voting. Skardu follows with 208 polling stations, while Ghizer has 207 and Diamer has 174.

Diamer district has the highest number of highly sensitive polling stations, reflecting heightened security requirements. Other districts, including Ghanche, Astore, Hunza, Nagar, Shigar, and Kharmang, have also completed arrangements for polling under strict security protocols.

Key Electoral Battlegrounds

Diamer and Skardu are considered key battleground districts, each comprising four constituencies, the highest number in the region. Gilgit, Ghizer, and Ghanche each have three constituencies, while Nagar and Astore have two constituencies each. Hunza, Shigar, and Kharmang have one constituency each.

In Nagar’s GBA-4 constituency, more than 29,900 voters are expected to participate, with authorities establishing separate polling stations for men and women. A competitive contest is anticipated among candidates backed by major political parties.

Meanwhile, more than 158,000 voters are expected to cast their ballots in Diamer district, where authorities have established 173 polling stations.

Election campaigning officially concluded on June 5 in accordance with Election Commission regulations. With voting now underway across all constituencies, the outcome will determine which party or alliance gains sufficient support to form the next government in Gilgit-Baltistan.