GILGIT: The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has called for the immediate announcement of the election schedule for the Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) Assembly, as polls remain delayed four months after the legislature completed its term.
General elections for the GB Assembly were originally scheduled for January 24, 2026, while long-awaited local government elections were set for February 14, 2026. However, both were postponed indefinitely shortly after being announced due to severe weather conditions across the region.
Speaking on Saturday, GB Chief Election Commissioner Raja Shehbaz Khan said preparations for the elections were underway, but no final date had yet been decided.
He added that the public would be informed as soon as the commission finalised the schedule.
The GB caretaker government had earlier planned to hold a multiparty conference on March 24 to consult political stakeholders regarding the new timeline, with expectations that a revised schedule would be announced by the end of March. So far, however, no progress has been made.
On Friday, the PPP’s GB chapter formally urged the regional election commission to announce the election schedule without further delay.
In a statement, the party said the timely issuance of the schedule was essential for the political system to function in line with constitutional requirements.
The PPP further said that peace and security in the region had significantly improved due to the efforts of political leadership and other stakeholders, while weather conditions had also become favourable.
“All political parties, including the PPP, demand that the election schedule be announced and constitutional obligations be fulfilled through transparent and impartial elections,” the statement said.
GB caretaker Information Minister Ghulam Abbas, when contacted, said that announcing the election schedule fell solely within the jurisdiction of the election commission.
He added that the caretaker government would fully facilitate the commission in ensuring free, fair, and transparent elections.
However, Abbas said he could not confirm when the polls would ultimately take place.
Concerns over further delay
Political parties in the region remain concerned that the elections may face additional delays.
Earlier, 14 political parties had opposed holding polls in January or February due to heavy snowfall and harsh winter conditions, which had cut off several areas.
Now, while some parties hope elections may be held before June, many fear the process could be pushed to September or October.
Leaders note that elections cannot be conducted during Muharram, expected to begin on June 15 or 16, or during other major religious observances such as Chehlum.
This has raised concerns that any delay until June could effectively postpone voting by several more months.
Sources said the local chapter of the ruling PML-N was also hesitant about early elections, citing public dissatisfaction over rising fuel prices and other economic challenges that may affect its campaign.
The absence of an elected assembly has reportedly led to administrative difficulties, with several development projects and policy decisions awaiting approval.
Additional uncertainty stems from recent unrest in Skardu and Gilgit, where violent protests erupted in March following the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli strikes.
At least 20 people, including two security personnel, were killed during the demonstrations, which led to curfews in both cities for several days.
A three-member judicial commission is currently investigating the riots.
Although normalcy has since returned, officials fear that any legal action following the inquiry could spark fresh protests and law-and-order concerns.
Sources said this factor may further delay the election schedule.
Background
The last GB Assembly elections were held on November 15, 2020, across 24 constituencies.
The PTI formed the government, and Khalid Khurshid became chief minister.
In July 2023, however, the GB Chief Court disqualified Khurshid, after which a coalition of PTI dissidents, PPP, and PML-N formed a new government and elected Haji Gulbar Khan as chief minister.
The assembly completed its five-year term on November 24, 2025.
On the same day, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, as chairman of the GB Council, appointed retired Justice Yar Muhammad as caretaker chief minister under Article 48-A(2) of the Government of Gilgit-Baltistan Order, 2018.
Under the 2018 order, elections are required to be held within 60 days of the assembly’s dissolution.
President Asif Ali Zardari had later announced January 24 as polling day, and the election commission issued the schedule for both general and local government elections.
However, following consultations with political parties, the polls were postponed on December 18 due to severe weather, with the commission saying a revised schedule would be announced later.
At the time, the CEC had indicated that elections were likely to be rescheduled for the last week of May or early June, once weather conditions improved.