GILGIT: The Election Commission of Gilgit-Baltistan has postponed the ongoing electoral schedule for local government (LG) elections by seven days to allow the provincial government time to finalise proposed amendments to the Gilgit-Baltistan Local Government Act 2014.
Chief Election Commissioner Gilgit-Baltistan Raja Shahbaz Khan issued the order after considering a request from the GB government seeking additional time to complete the required legislative changes.
According to a press release issued by the Election Commission Secretariat, the original electoral programme had been notified on June 3, 2026. A subsequent notification on June 15 fixed polling day for Sunday, Sept 27, 2026. On August 13, the provincial government formally requested the chief election commissioner to grant approximately seven days so that proposed amendments to relevant provisions of the Local Government Act 2014 could be considered and the necessary legislation completed.
Taking into account the government’s request and the need to conduct the electoral process in an organised manner, the Election Commission decided that the remaining stages of the electoral programme would be postponed with immediate effect for seven days. During this period, the Gilgit-Baltistan government will be given the opportunity to finalise the proposed amendments and related legislation. All stages of the electoral programme falling within the seven-day period will also be deferred proportionally by seven days. Fresh dates for the affected stages will be incorporated into a revised electoral schedule.
Once the seven-day period ends, the Election Commission will issue a revised electoral programme after taking into account the amendments made by the government to the relevant provisions of the Gilgit-Baltistan Local Government Act 2014. The commission has directed all district returning officers, returning officers and other relevant election officials to carry out future electoral work strictly in accordance with the revised programme to be issued by the Election Commission.
Chief Election Commissioner Raja Shahbaz Khan stated that the local body election process would be completed in a transparent, organised and impartial manner in accordance with the law, Constitution and prescribed electoral rules. He added that all necessary information regarding the electoral programme and new dates would be communicated to the public and relevant electoral institutions in a timely manner.
