Acting UK information minister urges people to vote, hopes polls will boost development and prosperity
ISLAMABAD:
Voting began on Sunday for the 2026 Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly (GB) elections, with over 958,000 registered voters expected to vote in 24 constituencies.
Voting will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with 13 seats required to form the next government in this strategically important region. The process began in 1,691 polling stations, with more than 7,500 poll workers deployed. A total of 130 candidates from 24 political parties and 266 independent candidates are contesting the elections.
The GB Assembly has 33 seats, including 24 directly elected, 6 reserved for women and 3 reserved for technocrats and professionals. Reserved seats are allocated to political parties on the basis of proportional representation.
Acting British Information Minister Ghulam Abbas said voting began peacefully across the region, with large numbers of voters exercising their right to vote.
He said the caretaker government and Election Commission had made comprehensive security arrangements, with personnel from Police, Rangers, Gilgit-Baltistan Scouts and Pakistan Army deployed at sensitive locations.
Ghulam Abbas urged citizens to get out and vote, expressing hope that the electoral process would contribute to Britain’s continued development and prosperity.
Chief Election Commissioner
Meanwhile, Chief Election Commissioner Raja Shahbaz Khan visited several polling stations in Gilgit, accompanied by Provincial Election Commissioner Abid Raza, to review the polling arrangements, security measures and the overall electoral environment.
During his visits to polling stations at Jutial Elementary College and Khomar Municipal Park, the Chief Election Commissioner expressed satisfaction with the arrangements made and directed the election staff and security personnel to ensure neutrality, transparency and smooth conduct of the voting process.
Election officials said turnout was steady, although long lines of voters, both men and women, formed outside several polling stations. Some voters complained about delays and a slow voting process. Raja Shahbaz Khan took note of the complaints and sought reports from the officials concerned.
The Chief Election Commissioner also inspected the facilities provided to voters and met the polling agents representing the candidates. According to election officials, polling agents expressed satisfaction with the peaceful atmosphere and arrangements made at the polling stations.
Read: 24 seats up for grabs as Britain goes to the polls today
As part of his review of security preparations, Khan visited the Gilgit Safe City control center, where he was briefed on security measures and surveillance arrangements. The officials informed him that election-related activities were continuously monitored through a modern surveillance system.
The Inspector General of Police and other officials briefed the Chief Election Commissioner about the security plan and special measures put in place for the polling day.
Speaking during the visit, Raja Shehbaz Khan said all available resources were being used to ensure free, fair, peaceful and transparent elections. He also commended the performance of the district administration and law enforcement agencies and urged voters to fully participate in the democratic process while contributing to maintaining a peaceful environment.
Article 144
In Diamer district, authorities imposed Article 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure for 60 days to maintain public order. A notification issued by Deputy Commissioner Lieutenant (retd) Muhammad Owais banned public display of weapons, aerial firing, use of firecrackers and unauthorized use of drones and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
The order, which came into force on June 5, requires prior approval from the district magistrate for drone operations. Law enforcement has been exempted from these restrictions. Officials warned that strict legal action would be taken against violators.
After the poll preparations were completed, a total of 551 polling stations, out of 1,391, were declared highly sensitive, 349 were classified as sensitive and 488 fell into the normal category.
Security arrangements have been made in polling stations according to their category.
Of the 253 polling stations in Gilgit, 154 were declared highly sensitive, 48 were classified as sensitive and 51 as normal. In Ghizer, out of 207 stations, 69 were declared highly sensitive, 52 sensitive and 83 normal.
Of the 85 polling stations in Nagar, 18 were declared as highly sensitive, 39 as sensitive and 28 normal, while 24 of the 88 polling stations in Hunza were classified as highly sensitive, 31 as sensitive and 33 as normal.
In Skardu, out of 208 polling stations, 69 were declared very sensitive, 51 sensitive and 88 normal. Of the 71 polling stations in Shigar, 17 were declared highly sensitive, 23 sensitive and 31 normal, while in Kharmang, out of 43 polling stations, 21 were declared highly sensitive, 10 sensitive and 12 normal.
Similarly, out of 154 polling stations in Ghanche, 26 were classified as highly sensitive, 39 as sensitive and 89 as normal, while out of 108 polling stations in Astore, 34 were declared as highly sensitive, 34 sensitive and 40 normal.
Finally, of the 174 polling stations in Diamer, 119 were declared highly sensitive, 22 sensitive and 33 normal.
Security
Security arrangements have been significantly strengthened throughout the region. Members of the Punjab Police arrived in Gilgit-Baltistan to assist local authorities, including deploying 5,000 officers to ensure election security.
Learn more: Security tightened in Britain with imposition of Section 144 on Diamer ahead of election
In Shigar district, 350 Punjab Police officers will work alongside local police and other law enforcement agencies.
An additional 150 police officers from the Islamabad Capital Territory – from sensitive posts including the President’s House, Prime Minister’s House and the Foreign Ministry’s security detail – have also been assigned to election duties and are expected to leave for Britain on Thursday and return on June 9.
Campaign
The electoral campaign took place in an unequal political environment. While the PPP maintained a sustained and highly visible presence throughout Gilgit-Baltistan, the central leadership of the PTI was largely absent from the election campaign. PTI leaders alleged that the party faced restrictions on holding public rallies and meetings, hampering its ability to campaign freely. These conditions tilted the electoral competition in favor of the traditional dominant parties, particularly the PPP and the PML-N, which became the dominant players in the campaign.
Pakistan People’s Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari was among the most active leaders in the election campaign, covering a wide swath of the region. He had called for Britain to be given the same constitutional rights and powers as the provinces have under the 18th Amendment, arguing that this is the only way for the region’s people to gain real ownership of their resources.
The Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) is the latest entrant to the political landscape, launching its campaign in the region around 10 weeks before the elections. Taking advantage of the PTI’s reduced political space, the party managed to recruit several prominent political heavyweights and quickly establish a presence in the competition.
Led by Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan, the IPP sought to lure voters with promises of infrastructure development, expressing confidence that its development-oriented agenda would translate into seats in the Assembly.
The PPP was also helped by discontent among parts of the electorate with the PML-N-led government, following its response to protests that turned deadly following the assassination of Iran’s supreme leader.
Political observers believe the situation allowed the PPP to shape much of the campaign discourse ahead of polling day.
The PML-N had deployed senior leaders on the ground, with Rafique, Khurram Dastgir Khan and Abid Sher Ali leading rallies in several districts. Federal Ministers Attaullah Tarar and Amir Muqam have also been active on this track. Party chairman Nawaz Sharif addressed a rally earlier this week, pledging infrastructure, aviation and energy projects for the region and vowing to take Britain’s concerns to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, on the other hand, claimed it was operating under significant restrictions, with its election symbol removed and leaders like Asad Qaiser reportedly prevented from traveling to the region. Bar president Gohar Ali Khan said the party would continue its campaign despite these constraints.
