Electoral commission announces February 14 elections for union and district councils; legislative elections scheduled for January 24
Gilgit-Baltistan Election Commission. Photo: ecgb.gov.pk/
Elected local bodies are expected to return to Gilgit-Baltistan after 21 years. The regional election commission announced that the elections for the local government election will be held on February 14, 2026, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Chief Election Commissioner Raja Shahbaz Khan on Monday issued a notification confirming that the elections will cover different local levels including union councils, district councils and municipal corporations.
The process will follow the Election Act, 2017 and the Gilgit-Baltistan Local Government Act, 2014. Submissions for nomination papers will be open from December 22 until December 26. The final list of candidates will be released on January 15, 2026, after the review and appeal process.
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Khan highlighted the institutional commitment to fairness, saying: “the transparent electoral process is considered the key instrument of democracy.” He added that his vision is to make the Gilgit-Baltistan Election Commission more energetic, fulfilling its constitutional mandate by organizing and conducting elections honestly.
High-ranking magistrates have been appointed in charge of the polls in the ten districts to ensure the smooth running of the elections.
The elections are seen as a crucial step towards the rejuvenation of grassroots democracy and local decision-making power, which critics have consistently claimed have weakened since the last local elections in 2004.
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Meanwhile, the Election Commission has confirmed that the general elections for the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly are scheduled for January 24, 2026. To prepare for it, the Election Commission has convened an All-Party Conference (APC) for December 18 at 11:00 am.
The Chief Electoral Commissioner stressed that the aim of the APC is to understand the views, suggestions and contributions of all political parties. He hopes the consultation will ensure the electoral process is “clean, transparent, fair and consistent with democratic principles”.
