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GB Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Raja Shah Baz Khan. Photo: Courtesy — Radio Pakistan
GILGIT:
Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Raja Shehbaz Khan on Thursday announced a delay in the general and local body elections due to harsh weather conditions in the region, after a multi-party conference held to consult political parties on holding the elections.
The general Assembly elections and local government (LG) elections were scheduled to be held on January 24 and February 14, 2026, respectively. LG surveys will be conducted in the region after a gap of 20 years.
“New voting dates for both elections will be announced later,” Khan said.
Meanwhile, the GB Election Commission today convened a multi-party conference (MPC), including leaders of PML-N, PPP, PTI and JUI, at its secretariat to consult political parties on holding elections in January and February.
While 14 political parties opposed holding elections in January and February due to harsh weather conditions in the region that isolated many areas from the rest of the region, six party leaders favored polling day, he said.
Leaders who opposed the election dates argued that people in the region could not exercise their right to vote due to weather conditions.
The commission was considering holding general and local elections simultaneously in May next year.
