G-B Assembly Elections Postponed Due to Severe Weather Conditions

The long-awaited Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly elections have been postponed due to worsening weather conditions and concerns over the safety of voters and election staff. “A new date will be announced later,” said election authorities.

Chief Election Commissioner Raja Shahbaz Khan convened an all-parties conference in Gilgit, attended by representatives of 19 political parties, to discuss the fate of the polls originally scheduled for January 24, 2026. Thirteen parties called for a postponement citing severe weather and logistical challenges, while six parties favored maintaining the original date.

Considering the majority view, the election commissioner formally deferred the January 24 polling date, stating that a fresh schedule will be issued at a later time. The elections had earlier been approved by President Asif Ali Zardari on December 12, 2025. According to the initial schedule, nomination papers were to be submitted from December 15 to 22, with the preliminary candidate list published on December 23 and the final list and election symbols to be issued by mid-January. District Returning Officers had also been appointed to oversee the electoral process across constituencies.

The Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly completed its constitutional five-year term on November 24, 2025, after which caretaker arrangements under Justice (retd) Yar Muhammad were put in place. Authorities emphasized that the postponement aims to ensure the safety of voters, polling staff, and security personnel, while enabling a transparent and orderly election process once conditions improve. Officials have not yet specified how long the delay will last or when the elections will be rescheduled, with an announcement expected in the coming days as the weather situation develops.