Gilgit-Baltistan (Urdu Times) Gilgit-Baltistan election today; Decorated Gox’s head, the crown of rulership?

Gilgit-Baltistan (Urdu Times) Gilgit-Baltistan election campaign today; whose head is decorated with the crown of Gahkumarani? Polling for Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly Elections 2026 will be held on Sunday, June 7, 2026. The people will decide who will be crowned the ruler today with the power of their vote. The election campaign is over, and a bitter contest is expected between all the political parties. There are a total of 33 seats in the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly, including 24 general seats, which will go to the polls. 6 seats in the assembly are reserved for women, while 3 seats are reserved for technocrats. After the election results, any party or coalition will need the support of 17 seats to form a government with a simple majority. On the other hand, a total of 403 candidates are competing for 24 seats in Gilgit-Baltistan, while tough competition is expected between PML-N and PPP in many constituencies. People’s Party 23, PML-K 22, IPP 15, Pakistan Muslim League 11, JUI 9, Wahdat-e-Muslimin 7, Jamaat-e-Islami, and MQM have fielded candidates on 6 seats, while around 266 independent candidates are in the fray. A total of 9 lakh 58 thousand 480 voters will exercise their right to vote.
Meanwhile, to ensure security, the internet service has been completely shut down in Gilgit city. Due to the shutdown of mobile internet, fiber net, and Wi-Fi services, citizens are facing difficulties in communication.

The following are the important details of the election campaign:
elections and security arrangements;
Polling Day: Today, Sunday, June 7, 2026, voting will be held from dawn to dusk.
Security alert: More than 10,000 policemen have been deployed to maintain law and order.
Situation in Skardu: A total of 124 polling stations are established in the 4 constituencies of Skardu.
Important circles and major competitions;…
Three constituencies of Gilgit are in the limelight this time due to political manipulation and fierce contests:
The three constituencies of Gilgit have become very important this time, where tough and thorny contests are expected.
In Gilgit Constituency I, a tough contest is expected between Pakistan Peoples Party’s Amjad Hussain Advocate and Muslim League-N’s Muhammad Shafiquddin, while Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen’s Muhammad Ilyas Siddiqui and Satwat Pakistan Party’s Sultan Raees are also in the field and are ready to give a strong challenge.
In Gilgit Constituency Two, there is a possibility of competition between PML-N Provincial President Hafiz Hafeezur Rehman and People’s Party’s Jameel Ahmed. Along with this, Fathullah Khan of the Stability Pakistan Party and PTI-backed independent candidate Atiq Pirzada are also hopeful of success. Independent candidates and politicians of the Stability Pakistan Party are also in a position to change the direction of the match in many constituencies.
In Gilgit Constituency 3, a contest is expected between Dr Muhammad Iqbal of PML-N and Aftab Haider of People’s Party, while Captain (R) Muhammad Shafi of Stability Pakistan Party and independent candidate Sohail Abbas, supported by PTI and Majlis Wahdat al-Muslimeen, are also in the field.
Overall, all the political parties and candidates are engaged in maneuvering and political strategizing before the decisive phase.

On the other hand, all preparations have been completed for transparent and peaceful elections in 24 constituencies of Gilgit-Baltistan on June 7, and all facilities, including funds and security have been provided to the Election Commission. Personnel from Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Islamabad police have been called for security.
Who will be crowned the ruler, this night will be clear only after the completion of the polling process and the inconclusive and unofficial results.
Supporters of independent candidates of GBA 15 and 16 clashed. They attacked each other with sticks and stones. The fear of firing spread. Police fired shelling to disperse the workers, and shops in Dak Khana Bazaar were closed.

More than 400 candidates, including 8 women, are in the fray for 24 seats in Gilgit-Baltistan. Polling will continue from 8 am to 5 pm. Strict security arrangements have been made. The Gilgit-Baltistan Empowerment and Self-Governance Order was passed in 2009, paving the way for general elections there. Under the same order, general elections were held for the first time in November 2009, and elections are held every five years thereafter.
The last general elections were held in 2020, in which PTI’s Khalid Khurshid was elected as the Chief Minister. The Gilgit-Baltistan court disqualified Khalid Khurshid in 2023 in a fake degree case. A coalition government was then formed by disaffected members of PTI, Pakistan Muslim League-N, and Pakistan People’s Party, whose term ended on 24 November 2025.
River erosion and landslides are ongoing due to the melting of glaciers in Haspar, the last village of District Nagar. On the other hand, India has termed the elections in Gilgit-Baltistan as ‘illegal’, to which Pakistan has responded by saying that it ‘strongly rejects’ this claim. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has issued a statement ‘strongly protesting’ the issue of the assembly elections scheduled for June 7 in the Pakistan-administered region of Gilgit-Baltistan. India said that the regions of Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, and Gilgit-Baltistan are ‘inalienable and integral’ parts of India. Reacting to this, the Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesperson claimed that India is ‘a global leader in spreading false narratives and biased propaganda. The aim of this ridiculous claim is to try to turn reality into fiction.’ According to the Foreign Office spokesperson, these claims made by India are part of the propaganda that contradicts the facts and is misleading. Pakistan has made it clear that it completely rejects these Indian statements and does not consider them to be of any significance. Pakistan has reiterated its position that India is illegally occupying the internationally recognized disputed territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The Kashmir issue is the oldest unresolved dispute on the agenda of the United Nations Security Council, which began with India’s forcible and illegal occupation of the state of Jammu and Kashmir in 1947. Pakistan has said that the only way to find a just and lasting solution to this dispute is through the implementation of relevant UN Security Council resolutions, which provide for the right of self-determination to the Kashmiri people through a free and impartial plebiscite under UN supervision. The statement further said that India’s baseless claims regarding Gilgit-Baltistan are an attempt to divert attention from the grave human rights violations committed by Indian forces in occupied Jammu and Kashmir. The immunity enjoyed by Indian forces there under draconian laws is a form of state coercion. Pakistan has demanded that India vacate all illegally occupied territories, withdraw unilateral and illegal measures taken after August 5, 2019, and allow independent observers, human rights organizations, and international media access to the ground situation. The spokesperson said that India should provide the Kashmiri people with the opportunity to exercise their right to self-determination in accordance with the United Nations resolutions.

Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto has said that the PPP has been struggling for the sovereignty of Gilgit-Baltistan for 3 generations. In the message issued, he said that President Zardari gave identity to Gilgit-Baltistan, which led to administrative reforms there. He has said that Shaheed Bhutto abolished the FCR and the monarchy system and provided you with subsidies. Chairman PPP has said that now I, you, and the new generation have to struggle, stamp the arrow on June 7, make the PPP successful so that I can raise my voice in Islamabad for your sovereignty. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has also said that God willing, if you make the PPP successful, the day is not far when we will raise the slogan ‘Chain of five provinces, long live Bhutto, long live Benazir’. On the other hand, Punjab Information Minister Uzma Bukhari has said that the sounds of lions are being heard everywhere in Gilgit-Baltistan. In her statement, Uzma Bukhari said that the people always vote for the PML-N on the basis of performance, and the opponents seek votes by throwing mud at the PML-N. No party except the PML-N has built a single brick in Gilgit-Baltistan. Tehreek-e-Insaf has zero vote bank in Gilgit-Baltistan. PTI people have been raising noise for a week that they are not being allowed to campaign, PTI candidates are not complete, how are they making premature complaints about rigging? Uzma Bukhari said that every statement of PTI as a party proves to be a wall of sand. Compared to PML-N, with performance, lies, and propaganda being failed political tricks, we can proudly say that we will make Gilgit as beautiful as Lahore. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader and Asad Qaiser has said that PTI did not get a level playing field and all illegal tactics were used against PTI. It should be noted that according to the document, a development budget of Rs 37.1 billion was allocated for Gilgit-Baltistan in the current fiscal year, Rs 23 billion under the Block Allocation/ADP for Gilgit-Baltistan in the next fiscal year, Rs 4 billion under the Prime Minister’s Special Package, Rs 2.2 billion for the construction of the 16 MW Naltar Hydropower Project, Rs 1 billion for the regional grid establishment project, Rs 1.71 billion for the solar plants project at various sites, and Rs 1 billion for the regional grid establishment project. Funds have also been proposed for drainage, road, and water supply projects in Gilgit-Baltistan, while hospital construction projects have also been proposed. The federal government has started preparing to increase the development budget of Gilgit-Baltistan in the next fiscal budget. According to the document, a 27.32 percent increase has been proposed in the federal development budget of Gilgit-Baltistan for the next fiscal year. This increase was proposed in the revised development budget of Gilgit-Baltistan for the current fiscal year, which is a 5.26 percent increase for Gilgit-Baltistan compared to the original development budget. It has been stated that the development budget of Gilgit-Baltistan for the next fiscal year has been proposed at more than Rs 39 billion, while the revised development budget has allocated Rs 30.67 billion. According to the document, a development budget of Rs 37.1 billion was allocated for Gilgit-Baltistan for the current fiscal year, Rs 23 billion under the Block Allocation/ADP for Gilgit-Baltistan for the next fiscal year, Rs 4 billion under the Prime Minister’s Special Package, Rs 2.2 billion for the construction of the 16 MW Naltar Hydropower Project, Rs 1 billion for the regional grid establishment project, Rs 1.71 billion for the solar plants project at various sites, and Rs 1 billion for the regional grid establishment project. Funds have also been proposed for drainage, roads, and water supply projects in Gilgit-Baltistan, while funds have also been proposed for hospital construction projects.