Gilgit Baltistan elections to be held on Jan 24

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday approved the schedule for the upcoming general elections in Gilgit Baltistan, clearing the way for the region to head to the polls on January 24, 2026.

According to the official notification, the Gilgit Baltistan Election Commission will now issue a detailed schedule. Chief Election Commissioner Abid Ali said the commission will soon convene an all-parties conference to consult political stakeholders before the poll process formally begins.

The GB Assembly was dissolved on November 24 after completing its five-year term, resulting in the dissolution of the cabinet led by Gulbar Khan. Justice (retd) Yar Muhammad Nasir, a former judge of the GB Chief Court, has since taken oath as the caretaker chief minister.

Read More: ICC opens Phase-I ticket sales for 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup

The last general elections in Gilgit Baltistan were held in November 2020 across 24 constituencies, with the PTI forming the government and Khalid Khurshid elected as chief minister. Khurshid was later disqualified by the GB Chief Court in July 2023, leading to a change of government. A coalition of PTI’s breakaway faction, the PPP and the PML-N subsequently formed a new setup and elected Khan as chief minister.