GILGIT: The Election Commission of Gilgit-Baltistan (ECGB) on Tuesday released the tentative schedule for the upcoming general elections, proposing 24 January 2026 as the polling day.
An official notification issued by the Chief Election Commissioner on 25 November 2025 stated that the five-year term of the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly expired on 24 November. Exercising its mandate under the Election Act 2017 (as adapted to Gilgit-Baltistan), the commission finalized a 54-day election programme starting on 2 December 2025.
The schedule noted that the President of Pakistan, as the competent authority under the law, would be requested to formally announce the election date. Following presidential approval, the Chief Election Commissioner will issue the official notification.
After the presidential approval, nomination papers can be filed between 3 and 8 December, with the list of nominated candidates scheduled to be published on 9 December. Scrutiny of nomination papers is set for 16 December, and appeals may be filed by 20 December. Final decisions on appeals will be announced on 27 December, and the revised candidate list published on 28 December.
Candidates can withdraw their papers on 29 December, with election symbols allotted on 30 December.
The commission recommended that polling day “shall not be earlier than 28 days after publication of the revised list,” suggesting 24 January 2026, a Saturday, for voting across the region’s 24 constituencies.
The notification has been forwarded to the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan for further action.
