Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Raja Shehbaz Khan on Thursday introduced a delay of common elections and native our bodies polls resulting from harsh climate situations within the area, after a multiparty convention held to seek the advice of political events on the holding of the elections.
Normal Elections of the Meeting and native authorities (LG) elections had been scheduled for January 24 and February 14, 2026, respectively. The LG polls are going to be performed within the area after a niche of 20 years.
“The brand new polling dates for each elections might be introduced later,” Khan mentioned.
After the GB Meeting accomplished its five-year tenure on November 24, President Asif Ali Zardari introduced the overall elections date as it’s necessary to conduct elections inside 60 days, whereas the GB election commissioner additionally introduced the date of native physique elections.
In the meantime, the GB Election Fee convened a multiparty convention (MPC), together with leaders of PML-N, PPP, PTI and JUI, at the moment at its secretariat to seek the advice of political events on the holding of elections in January and February.
After the assembly, the GB CEC mentioned the assembly was convened to hunt views of the political events, their ideas and steering on key electoral issues to make the method efficient, clear and consistent with democratic rules.
Representatives of the political events attended the consultative assembly and shared their views and ideas with the election fee, he mentioned.
Whereas 14 political events opposed the holding of elections in January and February resulting from harsh climate situations within the area that lower off many areas from the remainder of the area, six occasion leaders favored the polling day, he mentioned.
The leaders, who opposed the election dates, argued that individuals within the area couldn’t use their proper to vote because of the climate situations, they argued.
In the meantime, 14 petitions had been submitted with the GB Election Fee difficult the polling day of the overall elections and demanding the postponement of the polls, he mentioned.
Khan agreed with the bulk opinions and introduced to withdraw the overall elections and native physique polls on January 24 and February 14, respectively.
In response to a supply, the fee was contemplating holding the overall and native physique elections concurrently within the month of Might 2026.
