GB election preparations advance as tribunal hears appeals

GILGIT: Preparations for the June 7 general elections to the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly are moving ahead, with election authorities saying administrative and legal arrangements have largely been completed while the Election Appellate Tribunal continues to hear challenges to decisions made by returning officers.

According to details shared by the Gilgit-Baltistan Election Commission Secretariat, 22 candidates submitted appeals against returning officers’ decisions by May 2, which was the final date for filing such petitions under Section 63(1) of the Election Act, 2017.

The Election Appellate Tribunal Gilgit-Baltistan, headed by Justice Raja Shakeel Ahmed, upheld the returning officers’ decisions during the initial hearing and disqualified seven candidates from contesting the GB Assembly elections.

The tribunal also reserved its verdict on an election petition filed by Sher Azeem Khan from GBA-19 Ghizer-1, with the decision scheduled to be announced on May 7.

In addition, four more appeals were declared admissible. The tribunal summoned the relevant returning officers for May 4 and issued notices directing them to appear and explain their decisions.

The tribunal said all pending appeals would be decided by May 9, 2026, in order to maintain transparency and keep the electoral process on schedule.

Election arrangements

In a statement, the Gilgit-Baltistan Election Commission Secretariat said all major arrangements had been finalised to ensure what it described as a smooth and credible voting process.

Chief Election Commissioner Raja Shahbaz Khan said the commission was fully prepared and that both administrative and legal requirements had been completed ahead of time to support transparent elections.

He said an Election Appellate Tribunal had already been established to deal with possible disputes and was reviewing appeals related to returning officers’ decisions.

The statement added that the appointments of district returning officers, returning officers and assistant returning officers had been completed throughout the region. Officials are now working on polling schemes and operational planning.

Election officials have also been provided dedicated funds for key expenses, including the establishment of polling stations, training of staff, logistics and the procurement of election material. The commission said these steps were intended to help ensure polling takes place without disruption.

Training and oversight

The Election Commission Secretariat said capacity-building activities were also in progress. Training sessions for election staff, media personnel and monitoring teams have already been completed in Baltistan.

Similar training sessions for Gilgit, Diamer and Astore divisions are scheduled to begin from May 4 at the Gilgit Judicial Academy.

The commission said election material had already been distributed to the relevant officials, who had been instructed to strictly follow the principles of neutrality, transparency and legal compliance during the process.

The Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly elections are scheduled to be held on June 7.