Polling Underway For Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly Elections Today

Gilgit: (Web Desk) Polling has commenced across Gilgit-Baltistan for the general elections on 24 seats of the regional assembly, setting the stage for a fiercely contested political showdown.

Voting began in the morning and will continue without interruption until 5pm. According to election authorities, 958,480 registered voters are eligible to participate in the electoral process, while 403 candidates are competing for the 24 available assembly seats.

The election is expected to witness intense competition among major political parties, including the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), alongside independent candidates and regional political groups.

Gilgit-Baltistan Election Race Intensifies Across 24 Constituencies

To ensure a peaceful voting process, comprehensive security arrangements have been deployed throughout Gilgit-Baltistan, with law enforcement agencies maintaining vigilance at polling stations and sensitive locations.

Several constituencies are being closely watched due to the presence of influential political figures. In GBA-1 (Gilgit-I), PPP regional president Amjad Hussain Azar faces a crucial test, while former chief minister Hafiz Hafeezur Rehman is contesting from GBA-2 (Gilgit-II) under the PML-N banner.

In Baltistan, attention is focused on GBA-7 (Skardu-I), where former chief minister Syed Mehdi Shah is engaged in a high-profile contest. Meanwhile, former GB Assembly speaker Syed Amjad Ali Zaidi is a key contender in GBA-8 (Skardu-II).

Nationalist politics remain influential in GBA-20 (Ghizer-II), where veteran leader Nawaz Khan Naji seeks to retain his strong support base. Constituencies in Diamer, Astore and Ghanche are also expected to play a decisive role, with local tribal, religious and community alliances significantly shaping electoral outcomes.

A political party requires at least 17 seats to secure a simple majority and form the Gilgit-Baltistan government independently, making every constituency crucial in determining the region’s next leadership.