GILGIT BALTISTAN: The campaigning period for the Gilgit-Baltistan GB Assembly elections officially concluded at midnight, triggering a complete ban on all electioneering activities ahead of voting scheduled for June 7.
With 403 candidates vying for 24 assembly seats, the electoral battle features a heavy tilt toward independents. According to official figures, 266 independent candidates are in the race, far outnumbering those fielded by major political parties. Among party contestants, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leads with 23 candidates, followed closely by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) with 22. The Ustasha-e-Pakistan Party has fielded 15 candidates, while 11 are running under the Pakistan Muslim League (PML) banner. The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) has nine candidates, the Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) seven, and both Jamaat-e-Islami and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) have six each. Notably, only eight of the total 403 candidates are women, compared to 396 male contestants.
A total of 958,480 registered voters are eligible to cast their ballots on Sunday, June 7. Authorities have finalized stringent security arrangements for polling day. Local police will be deployed alongside personnel from the Gilgit-Baltistan Scouts to ensure peaceful voting across the region.
The election commission has reminded all candidates and political parties that any form of campaigning—including rallies, processions, public address, and door-to-door canvassing—is strictly prohibited after the midnight deadline. Violations may lead to penalties or legal action.
Polling stations will open on June 7 as scheduled, with security forces positioned at sensitive locations to maintain order and enable voters to exercise their franchise without fear
