Gilgit-Baltistan goes to polls on June 7 with 396 candidates, 958,000 voters, and the eyes of all major political parties fixed on Pakistan’s most strategically vital mountain region.
By Imran Malik | National Desk | MediaBites.com.pk
High in the Karakoram mountains, where Pakistan meets China, and borders disputed Kashmir, nearly a million voters will step out tomorrow to elect their representatives in the fourth general elections of the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly — and the rest of Pakistan is watching every single vote.
After weeks of rallies, promises, accusations, and political theatre, the decision now rests with 958,480 registered voters across 24 constituencies who will choose from 396 candidates competing for 24 assembly seats.
The Numbers Behind the Mountain Vote
The scale of this election tells its own story. A total of 1,368 polling stations have been established across the region, of which 551 have been declared highly sensitive, 349 sensitive, and 488 normal — figures that reflect both the logistical complexity and the security challenges of holding elections in one of the world’s most rugged terrains.
Of the total registered voters, 503,772 are male, and 454,708 are female — a gender gap that political parties have been actively trying to bridge through targeted outreach campaigns in the region’s more remote valleys.
Eight women candidates are contesting the elections, competing across various constituencies in a region where female political participation has historically been limited but is growing steadily.
Who Is Running — and Who Stands to Win?
The contest is a four-way battle with a wildcard factor that could upend every prediction.
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has fielded candidates in 23 of the 24 constituencies, making the clearest statement of intent. PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari personally campaigned across GB in the final stretch, signalling how seriously the party views this election.
Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) is contesting 22 seats and enters the election with the advantage of being the ruling federal party — one that has strategically increased GB’s development budget by 27.32% for the upcoming fiscal year 2026-27, proposing over PKR 39 billion in development allocations. Critics have called the timing of the budget increase a textbook example of election-eve financial maneuvering.
Tehreek-e-Istehkam Pakistan (TIP), led by Aleem Khan, has fielded 15 candidates and is being watched as a potential kingmaker — drawing support from voters disillusioned with both the PPP and the PML-N.
PTI candidates, barred from running under their party name, are contesting as 19 independent candidates — a significant wildcard in a region where personal loyalty often outweighs party affiliation. Overall, 266 independent candidates are in the race, making this election’s final result genuinely unpredictable.
Security Lockdown — Section 144 in Diamer
The district administration of Diamer imposed Section 144 for 60 days, effective June 5, imposing a broad range of restrictions aimed at public safety and the protection of sensitive installations.
Under the directives, a complete ban has been placed on the carrying or display of all types of arms and ammunition, aerial firing, the use of crackers, and the flying or operation of all types of drones, quadcopters, and unmanned aerial vehicles.
Of Diamer’s 174 polling stations, 119 were declared highly sensitive — the highest proportion of any district in GB — reflecting the area’s complex security environment.
Heavy security deployments are in place across all seven districts, with personnel allocations calibrated to each polling station’s sensitivity category.
Watch GB Election Analysis:
India Objects — Pakistan Pushes Back
The elections have drawn an international dimension that goes beyond mountain politics. Pakistan has rejected India’s recent remarks regarding the GB elections, describing India’s statements as baseless and part of an attempt to promote false narratives regarding the region.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office reiterated its longstanding position that Jammu and Kashmir remains a disputed territory, called for resolution through a UN-backed plebiscite, and urged India to reverse measures introduced in Indian-administered Kashmir since August 5, 2019.
New Delhi’s objection to the GB elections is not new — India has consistently argued that Gilgit-Baltistan is part of the broader Kashmir dispute and that Pakistani elections there are illegitimate. Islamabad just as consistently rejects that position entirely.
Why These Elections Matter Beyond GB
Political analysts argue that the GB results will send signals that echo far beyond the mountains.
A PPP victory would strengthen Bilawal Bhutto’s national standing ahead of the next federal election cycle. A PML-N win would validate the federal government’s narrative of governance. A strong TIP performance would signal that Aleem Khan’s new political vehicle has genuine national traction. And strong independent showings by PTI-affiliated candidates would demonstrate that Imran Khan’s support base, even without its party name, remains a force that cannot be wished away.
For the overseas Pakistani community — particularly the large GB diaspora in Karachi, Islamabad, and internationally — tomorrow’s vote is a moment of deep connection to a homeland that often feels politically distant but never emotionally so.
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