President Zardari Announces Schedule for Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly Elections
President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari has officially announced the schedule for the upcoming Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) Assembly elections, setting January 24, 2026, as the polling date. The announcement was made through a formal notification issued on Friday and reported by ARY News.
According to the notification, the election schedule has been issued under the Gilgit-Baltistan Order 2018 and the Election Act, ensuring compliance with legal and constitutional requirements. The announcement marks a key step in the region’s democratic transition following the completion of the previous assembly’s tenure earlier this year.
Caretaker Setup Put in Place After Tenure Completion
Following the end of the GB Assembly’s five-year term, Justice (retd) Yar Muhammad was appointed as the Caretaker Chief Minister on November 25. His appointment was made after a consultation process led by the Chairman of the Gilgit-Baltistan Council, involving discussion between the Leader of the Opposition and the Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs, Amir Muqam.
The caretaker chief minister has been appointed under Article 148-A, as stated in the official notification. The appointment is intended to ensure a neutral and administrative environment for the upcoming elections, enabling a smooth and transparent transition towards the next elected government.
Shift Toward Election Preparation
Before the caretaker setup was instituted, the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly completed its constitutional tenure and was subsequently dissolved through a formal notification. Following this, all ministers, advisers and coordinators in the outgoing government were denotified, completing the transition to the interim administration.
With the election date now confirmed, political parties across Gilgit-Baltistan are expected to accelerate preparations as the region heads into another significant democratic exercise. The polling scheduled for January 24, 2026, will play a critical role in shaping GB’s political landscape for the next five years.
