2026 Gilgit Baltistan Assembly election

2026 Gilgit Baltistan Assembly election
7 June 2026
24 of the 33 seats in the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly[a]
17 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party Third party
 
Leader Amjad Hussain Azar Hafiz Hafeezur Rehman Gulbar Khan
Party PPP PML(N) IPP
Leader since 9 December 2015 6 February 2015 30 May 2022
Leader's seat Gilgit-I Gilgit-II Diamer-IV (lost re-election)
Last election 5 seats 3 seats New party
Seats before 5 3 0
Seats won 14 9 7[b]
Seat change 9 6 7
  Fourth party Fifth party
 
Leader Khalid Khurshid Muhammad Kazim Maisam
Party PTI independents[c] MWM
Leader's seat Not contesting Skardu-II
Last election 22 seats 1 seat
Seats before 21 1
Seats won 2[d] 1
Seat change 19
Constituency map of the Gilgit Baltistan Assembly, showing winning parties.
Chief Minister before election

Yar Muhammad
Independent

Elected Chief Minister

Amjad Hussain Azar
PPP

Elections to appoint the 24 members of the 4th Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly, the highest body of the Government of Gilgit-Baltistan, were held on 7 June 2026.[5][6][7]

According to official results, the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) won ten general seats while Pakistan Muslim League (N) (PML(N)) emerged to be the second largest party with six general seats. Independent candidates supported by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) won two general seats and Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) won one general seat. Other independent candidates garnered five general seats.[8] These five independents later joined Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP).[1] Moreover, one of the PTI-supported independents later joined PPP.[4]

Background

2020 elections

Following the elections in 2020, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) emerged as the largest party after winning 16 of the 24 general seats in the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly, and securing a two-thirds supermajority in the assembly after six women representatives (four who went to the PTI) and the three technocrats (two who went to the PTI) were added with a final total of 22 out of 33 seats. Khalid Khurshid was elected as the Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan. The PTI became the first party in the history of Gilgit-Baltistan to secure a two-thirds majority.[9]

Election of Gulbar Khan

On 4 July 2023, a three-member bench of the Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Court disqualified Khurshid following a court case that revealed his law degree from London to be fake. The case against Khursheed was filed by Ghulam Shahzad Agha, a member of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) who argued that his degree was fraudulent. As a result of his disqualification, he was de-seated and the PTI government in Gilgit-Baltistan was dissolved.[10]

On 13 July 2023, Gulbar Khan, another PTI member of the Assembly, was elected as Chief Minister after securing 19 votes, including three each from the Pakistan Muslim League (N) PML(N) and Pakistan People's Party (PPP), and one from the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) (JUI(F)). The remaining twelve votes were from PTI members, who subsequently formed a forward bloc in the assembly. Khan's cabinet included two members each from the PML(N) and PPP, one from the JUI(F), and nine from the PTI forward bloc.[11][12]

Timeline

  • 24 November 2025: The Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly completed its 5-year tenure at midnight. Elections must be held no more than 60 days after this date.[13] Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari appointed Yar Muhammad, a retired Justice of the Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Court, as the region's caretaker Chief Minister.[14]
  • 26 November 2025: Governor Syed Mehdi Shah administered the oath of office to Yar Muhammad.[15]
  • 2 December 2025: The Election Commission of Gilgit-Baltistan (ECGB) announced the schedule of the 2026 elections, setting 24 January 2026 as the date when polling will be held.[5]
  • 18 December 2025: After consultation with 20 political parties at a multi-party conference, the ECGB announced that the elections would be delayed due to harsh weather conditions in the region.[6]
  • 6 January 2026: The caretaker cabinet of Chief Minister Yar Muhammad was sworn in, consisting of twelve ministers and two advisors.[16]
  • 11 February 2026: Former Gilgit-Baltistan governor Raja Jalal Hussain Maqpoon joined IPP.[17]
  • 11 April 2026: The ECGB announced the new election schedule, setting 7 June 2026 as the date when polling will be held.[7]
  • 7 June 2026: Polls opened.[18]

Parties

The table below lists the ten political parties that fielded at least three candidates (out of a possible 24 constituencies) or held seats at the end of the term of the 3rd Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly.[19]

Name National Leader Claimed Ideology(ies) Total seats at start of the 3rd Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly Total seats at the end of the 3rd Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly[e] Symbol
PPP Pakistan Peoples Party
پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی 		Bilawal Bhutto Zardari Social Democracy
Secularism
Social liberalism
5 / 33
5 / 33
 Arrow
PML(N) Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz)
پاکستان مسلم لیگ (نواز) 		Nawaz Sharif Conservatism
Economic liberalism
Federalism
3 / 33
3 / 33
 Tiger
PTI Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf[c]
پاکستان تحريکِ انصاف 		Gohar Ali Khan Populism
Islamic Democracy
Welfarism
22 / 33
20 / 33
 Bat

(Miscellaneous[c])

MWM Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen
مجلس وحدتِ مسلمین 		Raja Nasir Abbas Jafri Pan-Islamism
Welfarism
Populism
1 / 33
1 / 33
 Tent
ITP Islami Tehreek Pakistan
اسلامی تحریک پاکستان 		Syed Sajid Ali Naqvi Shia Islamism
0 / 33
1 / 33
 Two swords
JUI(F) Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (Fazl)
جمیعت علمائے اسلام (فضل) 		Fazl-ur-Rahman Islamism
Clericalism
Conservatism
1 / 33
1 / 33
 Book
BNF(N)[f] Balawaristan National Front (Naji)
بلاورستان نيشنل فرنٹ (ناجی) 		Nawaz Khan Naji Gilgit-Baltistan Autonomy
1 / 33
1 / 33
 Revolver
IPP Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party
استحکام پاکستان پارٹی 		Aleem Khan Populism
Islamic Democracy
0 / 33
0 / 33
 Eagle
MQM(P) Muttahida Qaumi Movement (Pakistan)
متحدہ قومی موومنٹ (پاکستان) 		Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui Liberalism
Muhajir Nationalism
Secularism
0 / 33
0 / 33
 Kite
PML(Q) Pakistan Muslim League (Quaid e Azam)
پاکستان مسلم لیگ (قائد اعظم) 		Shujaat Hussain Conservatism
Pakistani Nationalism
0 / 33
0 / 33
 Tractor
AWP Awami Workers Party
عوامی ورکرز پارٹی 		Akhtar Hussain Democratic socialism
Progressivism
0 / 33
0 / 33
 Light bulb
JIP Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan
جماعت اسلامی پاکستان 		Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman Pan-Islamism
Islamic democracy
Social conservatism
0 / 33
0 / 33
 Scales

Results

The two tables below show the results of the elections. The first table shows the results for the elections across all 24 constituencies, and shows each political party's standing after independents joining different parties and the allotment of reserved seats.[20] The second table shows more detailed results for each of the 24 constituencies.[21][22][23]

Party Votes % Seats
Contested General Women Technocrats Independents joined Total +/-
PPP 161,399 29.81% 23 10 3 1 1[4] 15 -
PML(N) 120,414 22.24% 22 6 2 1 0 9 -
IPP 41,989 7.76% 19 0 1 1 5[1][2] 7 -
PTI[c] 36,773 6.79% 15 2 0 0 -1[4] 1 -
MWM 22,756 4.20% 7 1 0 0 0 1 -
ITP 22,352 4.13% 10 0 0 0 0 0 -
JUI(F) 12,526 2.31% 9 0 0 0 0 0 -
BNF(N) 7,075 1.31% 1 0 0 0 0 0 -
AWP 3,832 0.71% 4 0 0 0 0 0 -
PRHP 2,290 0.42% 1 0 0 0 0 0 -
JI 1,420 0.26% 6 0 0 0 0 0 -
PML(Q) 1,093 0.20% 12 0 0 0 0 0 -
Pakistan Nazriyati Party 790 0.15% 11 0 0 0 0 0 -
MQM(P) 434 0.08% 6 0 0 0 0 0 -
PMML 134 0.03% 1 0 0 0 0 0 -
TLP 77 0.01% 1 0 0 0 0 0 -
ANP 53 0.01% 1 0 0 0 0 0 -
PAT 22 0.004% 1 0 0 0 0 0 -
SIC 19 0.004% 1 0 0 0 0 0 -
Pakistan Awami League 17 0.003% 1 0 0 0 0 0 -
TTP 7 0.001% 1 0 0 0 0 0 -
IND 105,982 19.57% 236 5 0 0 -5[1][2] 0 -
Valid ballots/Total seats 541,454 98.35% 389 24 6 3 0 33 -
Rejected ballots 9,098 1.65%
Cast ballots 550,552 -
Registered voters/turnout 960,496 57.32%

By constituency

Constituency Winner Runner-up Margin Registered

Voters

Votes

Cast

Voter

Turnout

Source(s)
District Name Candidate Party Votes % Candidate Party Votes %
Gilgit GBA-1 Amjad Hussain PPP 11,287 37.89 Muhammad Shafiq Ud DIn PML(N) 6,472 21.73 4,815 45,792 30,723 67.09 [24]
GBA-2 Hafeezur Rehman PML(N) 14,788 44.31 Jamil Ahmed PPP 9,319 27.92 5,469 56,019 33,375 59.58 [25]
GBA-3 Syed Sohail Abbas Shah PTI[c] 8,060 26.97 Aftab Haider PPP 7,665 25.65 395 52,522 30,529 58.13 [26]
Nagar GBA-4 Muhammad Ali Akhtar PPP 7,973 42.22 Muhammad Ayub Waziri ITP 6,805 36.03 1,168 29,970 19,239 64.19 [27]
GBA-5 Zulfiqar Ali Murad PPP 2,780 25.50 Riaz Akbar MWM 2,562 23.50 218 18,300 11,214 61.28 [28]
Hunza GBA-6 Naik Nam Karim PTI[c] 6,429 29.35 Imtiaz Ul Haque PPP 5,499 25.10 930 52,237 22,628 43.32 [29]
Skardu GBA-7 Syed Tauqeer Mehdi PPP 4,622 32.49 Raja Jalal Hussain Maqpoon IPP 4,134 29.27 488 22,056 14,545 65.95 [30]
GBA-8 Muhammad Kazim Maisam MWM 10,816 37.19 Syed Muhammad Ali Shah PPP 10,251 35.25 565 53,022 29,803 56.21 [31]
GBA-9 Fida Muhammad Nashad PPP 6,578 39.06 Wazir Muhammad Saleem IND 6,353 37.73 225 33,649 17,622 52.37 [32]
GBA-10 Raja Nasir Ali Khan PPP 6,773 29.87 Muhammad Khan Wazir IPP 5,098 22.48 1,675 34,927 23,482 67.23 [33]
Kharmang GBA-11 Iqbal Hassan PPP 6,143 34.10 Syed Mohsin Rizvi PML(N) 4,847 26.91 1,296 34,670 18,620 53.71 [34]
Shigar GBA-12 Imran Nadeem PPP 13,222 42.53 Raja Azam Khan Amacha ITP 8,977 28.87 4,245 46,594 34,663 74.39 [35]
Astore GBA-13 Rana Farman Ali PML(N) 8,058 37.02 Shahida Khursheed PTI[c] 7,256 33.33 802 44,056 22,260 50.53 [36]
GBA-14 Rana Muhammad Farooq PML(N) 7,058 35.15 Syed Muhammad Abbas PPP 5,891 29.34 1,167 37,219 20,078 53.95 [37]
Diamer GBA-15 Muhammad Dilpazir Khan IND[b] 5,962 20.49 Wali ur Rehman JUI(F) 4,526 15.56 1,436 45,225 29,311 64.81 [38]
GBA-16 Imam Malik IND[b] Ataullah PPP [39]
GBA-17 Muhammad Naseem PPP 8,954 44.30 Rehmat Khaliq JUI(F) 5,286 26.16 3,668 41,045 20,503 49.95 [40]
GBA-18 Malik Kifayat-ur-Rehman PML(N) 6,081 48.25 Gulbar Khan IPP 5,447 43.22 634 27,368 12,678 46.32 [41]
Ghizer GBA-19 Syed Jalal Ali Shah PPP 9,331 34.06 Zafar Muhammad PML(N) 7,460 27.23 1,871 45,885 28,121 61.29 [42]
GBA-20 Abdul Jahan PML(N) 7,153 24.01 Nazir Ahmed PPP 7,034 23.61 119 52,733 30,172 57.22 [43]
GBA-21 Aman Ali IND[b] 9,978 39.48 Muhammad Ayub Shah PPP 6,685 26.45 3,293 43,075 25,476 59.14 [44]
Ghanche GBA-22 Muhammad Ibrahim Sanai PML(N) 10,136 47.18 Ashiq Hussain PPP 9,498 44.21 638 36,778 21,483 58.41 [45]
GBA-23 Anwar Ali IND[b] 13,161 67.20 Abdul Hameed IND 4,148 21.18 9,013 35,924 19,586 54.52 [46]
GBA-24 Asad Shafeeq IND[b] 7,763 50.51 Muhammad Ismail PPP 5,311 34.56 2,452 25,148 15,600 62.03 [47]

Reserved seats

On 20 June 2026, the ECGB notified successful candidates on reserved seats for women and technocrats.[20][48]

Reserved seat Candidate Party
Women Kalsoom Jahangir PPP
Sadia Danish PPP
Sobia Jabeen PPP
Sajida Begum PML(N)
Jennifer Bahadur PML(N)
Dilshad Bano IPP
Technocrats Muhammad Sharif PPP
Sahib Khan PML(N)
Muhammad Ali IPP

Aftermath

As no party received an overall majority of 17 seats, negotiations were required to form a government. On 20 June 2026, in a press conference led by Amjad Hussain Azar and Hafiz Hafeezur Rehman, Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League (N) (PML(N)) announced a power-sharing agreement. Under the agreement, PPP would secure the offices of Chief Minister and Speaker, while PML(N) would secure the offices of Governor, Deputy Speaker, and Leader of the Opposition. Both parties would support the other in votes for the elected offices of Chief Minister, Speaker, and Deputy Speaker.[49][50] On 21 June 2026, Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) also announced its support for PPP, with former Chief Minister Gulbar Khan, the party's president in Gilgit-Baltistan, said that they "will join the PPP-led alliance".[51]

On the morning of 22 June 2026, 30 newly elected members of the 4th Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly were sworn in by outgoing Speaker Nazir Ahmed. Due to ongoing legal and electoral proceedings, results for three general seats were still pending. Ahmed adjourned the assembly and returned at 4:00PM to announce the election schedule for the positions of Speaker and Deputy Speaker, giving candidates until 5:15PM to file nomination papers. Imran Nadeem of PPP and Malik Kifayatur Rehman of PML(N) had filed nomination papers for the position of Speaker and Deputy Speaker, respectively. Since no other candidate filed nomination papers, both were elected unopposed. Ahmed administered the oath of office to Nadeem, and Nadeem did so to Rehman. Nadeem then announced the election schedule for the position of Chief Minister, setting 7:40PM as the nomination deadline. No other candidate but Amjad Hussain Azar filed nomination, and therefore, Nadeem announced at 8:00PM that Azar was elected unopposed. Nadeem also announed Hafiz Hafeezur Rehman as the Leader of the Opposition, as opposioton members had requested so.[52]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Six seats are reserved for women, three seats are reserved for technocrats.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Five MLAs were elected as independents, but joined IPP after the election.[1][2]
  3. ^ a b c d e f g PTI members who contested in the general election ran as independent candidates aligned with the party because the Election Commission Gilgit-Baltistan prohibited the PTI election symbol.[3]
  4. ^ Naik Nam Karim, the PTI-supported independent who won from GBA-6 Hunza, joined PPP after the election.[4]
  5. ^ One seat was vacant at the end of the assembly's term.
  6. ^ Represented by Nawaz Khan Naji. Although Naji is the leader of Balawaristan National Front (Naji), he ran as an independent in the elections and served as an independent member in the assembly.

References

  1. ^ a b c d Nagri, Jamil (16 June 2026). "Four independents join Aleem Khan's Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party in Gilgit-Baltistan". Dawn. Retrieved 16 June 2026.
  2. ^ a b c TV, SAMAA (19 June 2026). "IPP declared eligible for GB reserved seats". SAMAA TV. Retrieved 20 June 2026.
  3. ^ Latif, Aamir (6 June 2026). "Pakistan's Gilgit-Baltistan region set for Sunday's polls". Anadolu Agency. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
  4. ^ a b c d Nagri, Jamil (19 June 2026). "GB's Supreme Appellate Court suspends election results for candidates of 3 constituencies". Dawn. Retrieved 20 June 2026.
  5. ^ a b "GB Assembly election schedule announced, polling set for January 24, 2026". dunyanews.tv. Retrieved 3 December 2025.
  6. ^ a b Nagri, Jamil (18 December 2025). "GB general elections, local body polls delayed due to harsh weather conditions: CEC Khan". Dawn. Retrieved 21 December 2025.
  7. ^ a b Nagri, Jamil (11 April 2026). "General elections in Gilgit-Baltistan to be held on June 7". DAWN News. Retrieved 12 April 2026.
  8. ^ Nagri, Jamil (9 June 2026). "PPP poised to form govt in GB". Dawn. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
  9. ^ "PTI gains two-thirds majority in G-B Assembly". The Express Tribune. 25 November 2020. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  10. ^ Web Desk (4 July 2023). "Gilgit-Baltistan CM Khalid Khursheed disqualified by court". Aaj English TV. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  11. ^ Taj, Imtiaz Ali (13 July 2023). "Haji Gulbar Khan elected GB chief minister". Dawn. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  12. ^ Nagri, Jamil (19 July 2023). "14-member Gilgit-Baltistan cabinet sworn in". Dawn. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  13. ^ Nagri, Jamil (25 November 2025). "Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly completes five-year tenure". Dawn. Retrieved 25 November 2025.
  14. ^ Mir, Shabbir (25 November 2025). "Justice Yar Muhammad named caretaker CM as GB Assembly completes five-year term". GEO TV. Retrieved 25 November 2025.
  15. ^ Taj, Imtiaz Ali (26 November 2025). "Retired judge Yar Muhammad takes oath as GB caretaker chief minister". Dawn. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
  16. ^ "12-member Gilgit-Baltistan caretaker cabinet sworn in". SAMAA TV. 6 January 2026. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
  17. ^ "14 PTI figures defect to IPP". The Express Tribune. 12 February 2026. Retrieved 17 April 2026.
  18. ^ "Polling ends in 24 constituencies in Pakistan's Gilgit-Baltistan, vote count underway". Arab News. 7 June 2026. Retrieved 14 June 2026.
  19. ^ "Members - Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly". Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly. Archived from the original on 25 November 2025. Retrieved 25 November 2025.
  20. ^ a b "PPP emerges as largest party in Gilgit-Baltistan elections winning nine out of 21 seats — official results". Arab News. 20 June 2026. Retrieved 20 June 2026.
  21. ^ Nagri, Jamil. "PPP poised to form govt in GB". Dawn. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
  22. ^ "Gilgit-Baltistan elections: Live map shows preliminary results". Geo News. 7 June 2026. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
  23. ^ "GB Election 2026". Tribune GB. Retrieved 14 June 2026.
  24. ^ GBA-1 Gilgit-I Form 49 ( 2026), 8 June 2026, retrieved 15 June 2026
  25. ^ GBA 2 Form 49 ( 2026), 9 June 2026, retrieved 15 June 2026
  26. ^ GBA 3 Form 49 ( 2026), 9 June 2026, retrieved 16 June 2026
  27. ^ GBA-4 Form 49 (2026), 9 June 2026, retrieved 16 June 2026
  28. ^ GBA-5 Form 49 (2026), 9 June 2026, retrieved 16 June 2026
  29. ^ GBA-6 Form 49 (2026), 8 June 2026, retrieved 16 June 2026
  30. ^ GBA-7 Form 49 (2026), 7 June 2026, retrieved 16 June 2026
  31. ^ GBA-8 Form 49 (2026), 10 June 2026, retrieved 16 June 2026
  32. ^ GBA-9 Form 49 (2026), 14 June 2026, retrieved 16 June 2026
  33. ^ GBA-10 Form 49 (2026), 8 June 2026, retrieved 16 June 2026
  34. ^ GBA-11 Form 49 (2026), 8 June 2026, retrieved 16 June 2026
  35. ^ GBA-12 Form 49 (2026), 8 June 2026, retrieved 16 June 2026
  36. ^ GBA-13 Form 49 (2026), 18 June 2026, retrieved 18 June 2026
  37. ^ GBA-14 Form 47 (2026), 8 June 2026, retrieved 20 June 2026
  38. ^ GBA-15 Form 49 (2026), 17 June 2026, retrieved 17 June 2026
  39. ^ Nagri, Jamil (20 June 2026). "PPP supporters block Karakoram Highway in Chilas, allege 'illegal' GBA-16 election result". Dawn. Retrieved 20 June 2026.
  40. ^ GBA-17 Form 49 (2026), 16 June 2026, retrieved 17 June 2026
  41. ^ GBA-18 Form 49 (2026), 17 June 2026, retrieved 17 June 2026
  42. ^ GBA-19 Form 49 (2026), 8 June 2026, retrieved 16 June 2026
  43. ^ GBA-20 Form 49 (2026), 10 June 2026, retrieved 16 June 2026
  44. ^ GBA-21 Form 49 (2026), 8 June 2026, retrieved 16 June 2026
  45. ^ GBA-22 Form 47 (2026), 7 June 2026, retrieved 20 June 2026
  46. ^ GBA-23 Form 49 (2026), 8 June 2026, retrieved 16 June 2026
  47. ^ GBA-24 Form 49 (2026), 7 June 2026, retrieved 20 June 2026
  48. ^ "G-B EC moves to complete house". The Express Tribune. 20 June 2026. Retrieved 21 June 2026.
  49. ^ "PPP, PML-N strike deal to form G-B govt". The Express Tribune. 21 June 2026. Retrieved 21 June 2026.
  50. ^ Nagri, Jamil (21 June 2026). "PPP to lead GB govt under power-sharing deal with PML-N". Dawn. Retrieved 21 June 2026.
  51. ^ "IPP announces support for PPP in Gilgit-Baltistan govt formation". Geo News. 21 June 2026. Retrieved 21 June 2026.
  52. ^ Nagri, Jamil (22 June 2026). "PPP's Amjad Hussain elected as GB chief minister after members take oath". Dawn. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
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