GB Election Commission postpones local bodies polls to Sept 27 due to Muharram

GILGIT: Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Election Commissioner Raja Shahbaz Khan on Monday announced the postponement of local bodies polls in the region — scheduled for August 2 — to September 27.

Earlier this month, the GB Election Commission had announced conducting the local bodies elections across the region on August 02.

Addressing a press conference, the GB chief election commissioner said several religious organisations had approached the election commission, requesting that the local bodies elections not be held during Muharram and the Chehlum of Imam Hussain (RA).

“Today (Monday) was the last day for filing nomination papers; however, in view of Muharram, the scrutiny date for nomination papers has been extended to August 10, 2026,” he stated.

He further said polling for the local body elections would be held on September 27, 2026, and that a total of 1,343 wards would be covered in the elections.

Khan emphasised that local government elections were a long-standing demand of the people and that their holding would help resolve public issues at the local level.

“The local government elections will be held on a party basis, and no candidate will be able to contest as an independent. The minimum age for a candidate is 25 years,” the chief election commissioner said.

“GB Election Commission will continue to fulfil its constitutional and legal responsibilities for holding transparent, free and fair elections,” he affirmed.

Meanwhile, during the press conference, the chief election commissioner announced a decision on 14 election petitions filed after the recent legislative assembly elections, upholding the validity of Form 47.

However, he said the decision on two constituencies — GBA-13 Astore-I and GBA-16 Diamer-II — had been deferred until June 17.

“Attempts were made to create doubts on some social and national media platforms regarding the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly elections; however, the commission has conducted all electoral matters in accordance with the law and regulations,” he said.

He said that under the Elections Act 2017, election results must be issued within 14 days.

“Due to petitions filed in some constituencies and election disputes, the issuance of results was delayed; however, the commission is handling all matters in accordance with legal requirements,” he said.

“An election tribunal has been set up for the final adjudication of electoral disputes, where petitioners can present their cases through legal proceedings,” he said, adding, “After hearing arguments from lawyers, decisions are being made in accordance with the requirements of law, justice and fairness.”

Khan further said that so far, the final results (Form 49) of 16 out of 24 constituencies had been released.

He added that the GB elections witnessed a high voter turnout, with the overall turnout around 70 per cent, reflecting the people’s confidence in the democratic process.

Khan stated that the repolling order at various polling stations — GBA-8 Skardu-II, GBA-13 Ast­ore-I, GBA-15 Diamer-I, GBA-16 Diamer-II and GBA-17 Diamer-III — had been suspended.