GILGIT: Preparations for the general elections to the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly, scheduled for June 7, are in full swing.

A total of 22 candidates filed appeals against the decisions of returning officers in the Election Appellate Tribunal by May 2, the last date for filing appeals under Section 63(1) of the Election Act, 2017.

The Election Appellate Tribunal Gilgit-Baltistan, headed by Justice Raja Shakeel Ahmed, upheld the decisions of the returning officers during the initial hearing and disqualified seven candidates for the GB Assembly elections. The decision on the election petition filed by Sher Azeem Khan (GBA-19 Ghizer-1) has been reserved and will be announced on May 7.

The tribunal declared four more appeals admissible, summoned the relevant returning officers on May 4, and issued notices to them to present their position.

The tribunal has issued notices to all concerned returning officers and directed them to appear on the appointed date and defend their decisions. It also clarified that all pending appeals will be disposed of by May 9, 2026, to ensure transparency and timely progress in the electoral process.

The Gilgit-Baltistan Election Commission Secretariat, in a statement, said all key arrangements have been finalised to ensure a smooth and credible voting process.

Chief Election Commissioner Raja Shahbaz Khan said the commission was fully prepared, adding that both administrative and legal requirements had been completed ahead of schedule to ensure transparent elections.

To address potential disputes, an Election Appellate Tribunal has been set up and is already reviewing appeals related to decisions made by returning officers.

Meanwhile, the appointment of district returning officers, returning officers and assistant returning officers has been completed across the region, with teams now focused on finalising polling schemes and operational plans.

Election officials have also received dedicated funds to cover essential expenses, including polling station setup, staff training, logistics and procurement of election materials. These measures are aimed at ensuring that polling day proceeds without disruption. Capacity-building efforts are also underway.

Training sessions for election staff, media personnel and monitoring teams have been completed in Baltistan, while similar sessions for Gilgit, Diamer and Astore divisions are scheduled from May 4 at the Gilgit Judicial Academy.

The commission has already distributed election materials to relevant officials and instructed them to strictly adhere to principles of neutrality, transparency and legal compliance throughout the process. Raja Shahbaz Khan reiterated that holding peaceful, fair and impartial elections remains the commission’s top priority.

Published in Dawn, May 4th, 2026