GILGIT: Activities for the upcoming general elections to the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly have geared up following the disqualification of several prominent candidates.

Gilgit-Baltistan Election Appellate Tribunal Judge Raja Shakeel conducted hearings of various cases on Friday, disqualifying former Speaker Fida Muhammad Nashad and Awami Workers Party candidate Baba Jan.

Judge Shakeel disqualified Nashad, a former GB chief executive and the Pakistan Peoples Party candidate, under Article 62(1)(f) of the Constitution for concealing facts related to his assets.

Similarly, the judge disqualified Jan, the Awami Workers Party candidate from Hunza, on the grounds of being a convicted person and concealing important facts in his nomination papers. The verdict stated that the candidate did not fulfil the legal requirements, due to which he was not eligible to contest the election.

Candidate Abdul Qayyum from GBA-13 Astore-1 was also disqualified on the grounds of being a bank defaulter.

A total of 22 candidates had 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.

Meanwhile, political parties are finalising their election rosters. The PPP an­­nounced its candidates in 21 constituencies, and the PML-N announced candidates in 19 constituencies.

Published in Dawn, May 9th, 2026