GB local government polls postponed

GILGIT: The local government elections in Gilgit-Baltistan have been postponed to September 27 from the earlier date of August 2 due to Muharram and Chehlum events, Chief Election Commissioner Raja Shahbaz Khan announced at a press conference on Monday.

Khan said several religious organisations had approached the Gilgit-Baltistan Election Commission and asked that the elections be held after Muharram and the Chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA). According to the details he shared, Ashura, the 10th of Muharram, will be observed on Friday, June 26, while Chehlum will fall in the first week of August.

He also said Monday had been the last day for submission of nomination papers, but the scrutiny schedule had been revised in view of Muharram. The scrutiny of nomination papers has now been extended to August 10, 2026, he stated.

The chief election commissioner said polling would now take place on September 27, 2026, across 1,343 wards. He said the elections would be conducted on a party basis and that independent candidates would not be allowed to contest. He added that the minimum age for a candidate is 25 years.

Speaking about the significance of the exercise, Khan said the local government elections had long been demanded by the people because they could help address public issues at the local level.

He said the Gilgit-Baltistan Election Commission would continue to discharge its constitutional and legal duties to hold transparent, free and fair elections.

During the same press conference, Khan also announced decisions on 14 election petitions filed after the recent Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly elections. He said rulings in two constituencies, GBA-13 Astore-I and GBA-16 Diamer-II, had been deferred until June 17.