GB local government elections scheduled for Aug 2, CEC says

Gilgit-Baltistan will hold its long-delayed local government elections on August 2, the region's Chief Election Commissioner Raja Shahbaz Khan announced Wednesday. This marks the first local polls in 22 years, with the last having taken place in 2004.

The elections were initially slated for February 14, 2026, but were postponed indefinitely due to severe weather. The Chief Election Commissioner stated that the election commission is now prepared, having appointed returning officers and other necessary personnel. A public notice will be issued on June 6, with nomination papers accepted from June 9 to 15.

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Delimitation and demarcation have been completed under the Local Government Act of 2014.

Elections will cover various local bodies, including union councils, district councils, town committees, municipal committees, and municipal corporations. The region's administrative structure has also been updated, with new categories for town committees, municipal committees, and municipal corporations in urban areas replacing previous systems.

Political parties had expressed concerns about potential delays beyond June, fearing elections might be pushed to October. They noted the difficulty of holding elections during religious observances like Muharram, which begins mid-June. The delimitation and demarcation processes have been completed under the 2014 Local Government Act, ensuring readiness for the August 2 date.

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The last local body election had taken place in 2004, 22 years ago.