GILGIT: The Election Commission has postponed the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly elections that were scheduled to be held on January 24, citing severe weather conditions across the region.
According to the Election Commission, an All Parties Conference (APC) was convened to review the situation, during which a majority of political parties supported delaying the polls due to concerns over safety and accessibility amid harsh winter conditions.
However, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League–Nawaz (PML-N) favored holding the elections on the original date.
The Commission stated that 13 political parties opposed proceeding with the general elections under the current circumstances. Following consultations, a consensus was reached to postpone the polls. A new election date will be announced later, the Commission added.
The decision comes as Gilgit-Baltistan experiences intense winter weather, raising logistical and security challenges for voters, election staff, and polling operations. The postponement was formally announced after the conclusion of the APC held earlier on Thursday.
