Gilgit-Baltistan Elections: Political Heat Amidst Threats of Arms – Here’s the Full Timeline
मुख्य बातें
- •The Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly elections will be held on 7 June 2026, with 403 candidates contesting.
- •The aerial firing by armed individuals during election campaigning has disrupted the political atmosphere.
- •The Legislative Assembly has 33 members, including 24 directly elected, six reserved for women, and three for technical experts.
- •The number of voters exceeds 963,000, spread across 24 constituencies.
- •The Legislative Assembly was dissolved on 24 November 2025, following which an interim administration was formed.
The dates for the Legislative Assembly elections in Gilgit-Baltistan have been announced amid a political deadlock and an election environment marred by the threat of arms. Scheduled for 7 June 2026, these elections have intensified competition among political parties, but a violent incident during election campaigning has raised serious questions about law and order in the entire region. On Saturday, during a political rally welcoming Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) leader Mama Sikandar Rahmat Khan, armed individuals openly fired machine guns and AK-47 rifles into the air. This incident has not only disrupted the election atmosphere but has also sparked a serious debate in Pakistan about the use of arms in politics. JUI is being accused of entering the electoral fray with the support of armed groups, creating an environment of political rivalry and violence.
