Gilgit-Baltistan Elections Coverage

Updated: 7:39 PM PKT — June 6, 2026

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and former National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser has alleged the upcoming Gilgit-Baltistan elections are being manipulated, stating they “cannot be called an election in any way.” Speaking to the media in Swabi, he claimed the polls are “hand-picked” and that the results have already been decided.

Qaiser asserted that PTI was not provided a level playing field, alleging that the party’s electoral symbol was taken away and that “all illegal tactics” were used against it. He accused the government of orchestrating a biased electoral process.

Updated: 4:01 PM PKT — June 6, 2026

The federal government is preparing to increase the development budget for Gilgit-Baltistan in the upcoming fiscal year, with a proposed allocation exceeding Rs. 39 billion. This marks a 27.32% increase over the revised development budget for the current year and a 5.26% rise from the original allocation.

Proposed funds include Rs. 23 billion for the Annual Development Programme, Rs. 4 billion under the Prime Minister’s special package, and significant funding for energy, including the Naltar Hydropower project and solar power plants. Funds have also been suggested for roads, water supply, and hospital construction.

Updated: 2:28 PM PKT — June 6, 2026

With the campaign period for the Gilgit-Baltistan general elections concluding at midnight, authorities have finalized security arrangements, particularly in sensitive areas. In Diamer district, Section 144 has been imposed for 60 days, banning the display of weapons, aerial firing, and the use of drones to ensure peace during the polling process scheduled for tomorrow.

Of the 174 polling stations in Diamer, 119 have been declared highly sensitive. Notably, all polling stations in constituencies GBA-17 (Darel) and GBA-18 (Tangir) fall into the highly sensitive category. To bolster security across the region, 5,000 police personnel from Punjab have also been deployed.

Updated: 1:27 PM PKT — June 6, 2026

Preparations for the Gilgit-Baltistan elections are complete, with 396 candidates, including 266 independents, contesting for 24 constituencies. A total of 958,780 registered voters are eligible to cast their ballots at 1,368 polling stations, of which 480 have been declared highly sensitive. To ensure security, 15,000 police personnel will be deployed across the region.

In Diamer district, authorities have imposed Section 144 for 60 days to maintain law and order. The order prohibits the display of weapons, aerial firing, and the unauthorized use of drones.