Special Report
Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly Elections 2026: A Constituency-by-Constituency Preview.
With 963,034 registered voters and 403 candidates across 24 seats, GB heads into its most competitive election yet
By TribuneGB News Desk
As Gilgit-Baltistan prepares for its 2026 Assembly elections, the political landscape across the region’s six districts has never been more fragmented — or more fiercely contested. A total of 963,034 voters are registered to cast their ballots across 24 constituencies, a jump of 188,715 from the 2020 figure of 774,319, signalling a significant expansion of the electorate. Of those, 506,097 are male and 456,937 female voters.
Across the 24 seats, 403 candidates are in the race — 131 representing political parties and 272 standing as independents. Only eight women are contesting, accounting for just two percent of the total field. PPP leads the party-wise candidate count with 23, followed closely by PML-N with 22 and PTI-backed independents with 19. IPP fields 15, ITP and PNP ten each, JUI nine, MWM seven, Jamaat-e-Islami and MQM six each, and AWP four.
The elections come amid shifting alliances, post-2020 legal battles, a former chief minister absent from the ballot, and new coalition formations that have upended traditional calculations in several districts. Here is a full preview of all 24 constituencies.
Gilgit District
GBA-1 — Gilgit-I (49,015 voters — 23 candidates)
PPP’s Amjad Hussain Advocate commands a formidable incumbency advantage here, having won the 2020 election with a commanding 11,752 votes — more than three thousand ahead of his nearest rival, independent Sultan Rais, who secured 8,356. PTI’s Johar Ali finished a distant third with 1,713 votes. This time, Sultan Rais returns under the IPP banner, while PML-N fields Muhammad Shafiq Din and the MWM-PTI combination presents Muhammad Ilyas Siddiqui. A competitive three-way race is expected among PPP, IPP and PML-N, though Advocate’s margin of victory in 2020 makes him the favourite to defend.
GBA-2 — Gilgit-II (56,196 voters — 40 candidates)
No constituency in this election carries more baggage — or more attention — than Gilgit-II. It has the highest number of candidates of any seat in GB, with 40 in the field. In 2020, PTI’s Fatehullah was declared the winner with 6,860 votes over PPP’s Shakeel Ahmed (6,764) in a near dead heat. What followed was a four-year legal ordeal: Jameel Ahmed challenged the result, 1,700 postal ballots were declared fake, and at the end of the tribunal process, PPP’s Shakeel Ahmed was declared the rightful winner. PML-N suffered its own embarrassment here, with former Chief Minister and provincial president Hafiz Hafeezur Rehman finishing third with 5,820 votes. In 2026, Hafiz Hafeezur Rehman returns for PML-N, Jameel Ahmed contests on PPP’s ticket, Fatehullah now stands for IPP, and PTI-backed Atiq Pirzada enters the fray. Political observers consider this the biggest electoral battle in GB this cycle.
GBA-3 — Gilgit-III (52,619 voters — 22 candidates)
PTI’s Sohail Abbas won this seat in 2020 with 6,807 votes. Dr. Muhammad Iqbal, then independent, finished second with 4,855, followed by PML-Q’s Capt. (Retd.) Muhammad Shafi on 4,754 and PPP’s Aftab Haider on 3,799. This time, Dr. Iqbal contests under PML-N, Abbas stands as a PTI-backed independent, Aftab Haider again flies the PPP flag, and Capt. Shafi moves to IPP. The rematch between the top four finishers of 2020 makes this one of the more fascinating contests in Gilgit district.
Nagar District
GBA-4 — Nagar-I (30,063 voters — 22 candidates)
This seat has already witnessed one election cycle within a cycle. PPP’s Amjad Hussain Advocate won here in 2020 but vacated the seat after winning from two constituencies simultaneously. The August 2021 by-election saw ITP’s Muhammad Ayub Waziri prevail with 5,422 votes over PTI’s Zulfiqar Ali Agha Beheshti (4,808) and PPP’s Javed Hussain (4,348). In 2026, Waziri defends for ITP, Muhammad Ali Akhtar carries PPP’s hopes, Imtiaz Hussain represents PML-N, and Agha Beheshti returns as a PTI-backed independent. A tough three-way contest is expected.
GBA-5 — Nagar-II (18,294 voters — 23 candidates)
The smallest constituency in the region by registered voters, Nagar-II is nonetheless closely watched. In 2020, independent Javed Ali Manwa won with 2,562 votes, later joining PTI. Zulfiqar Ali Murad was second (2,149) and MWM’s Haji Rizwan Ali third (1,799). Manwa now contests under PML-N, Prince Qasim Ali stands for ITP, Murad for PPP, and Riaz Akbar as the joint MWM-PTI candidate. The race is expected to be competitive across at least three camps.
Hunza
GBA-6 — Hunza (52,082 voters — 20 candidates)
Hunza is one of the most closely watched constituencies in these elections, and for good reason. In 2020, PTI’s Col. (Retd.) Obaidullah Baig won with 5,710 votes, with independent Noor Muhammad second (4,683), PPP’s Advocate Zahoor Karim third (4,193), independent Kamil Jan fourth (3,797), and AWP’s Asif Sakhi fifth (2,629) — a five-way spread that underlines how competitive the seat has historically been. For 2026, the formation of the Hunza National Alliance has fundamentally shifted the electoral calculation. Key contenders include PPP’s Col. (Retd.) Imtiaz-ul-Haq, PML-N’s Prince Saleem Khan, PTI-backed independent Nek Nam Karim, IPP’s Iman Shah, AWP’s Asif Sakhi, and PML’s Khush Noor Didar — one of only eight women in the field across all 24 seats. The contest is expected to revolve around the Hunza National Alliance, the PTI-backed independent, PPP and PML-N.
Skardu District
GBA-7 — Skardu-I (21,510 voters — 9 candidates)
A high-profile constituency that has historically attracted some of GB’s most prominent political names. In 2020, PTI’s Raja Muhammad Zakria Maqpoon won with 5,288 votes over former Chief Minister and former Governor Syed Mehdi Shah (4,140) of PPP, with PML-N’s Haji Muhammad Akbar Taban third. This time, PPP has fielded Syed Tauqeer Mehdi — son of Syed Mehdi Shah — in what amounts to a generational passing of the torch. Maqpoon returns as PTI-backed independent, Taban again for PML-N, and Raja Jalal Hussain Khan for IPP. A fierce four-way contest is expected.
GBA-8 — Skardu-II (52,287 voters — 14 candidates)
One of the most important seats in Skardu, GBA-8 saw MWM’s Muhammad Kazim Meesam win convincingly in 2020 with 7,988 votes over PPP’s Syed Muhammad Ali Shah (7,012). Meesam now contests as the joint MWM-PTI candidate, while Shah again represents PPP and Imtiaz Haider Khan flies PML-N’s colours. The principal battle is expected between MWM and PPP, though PML-N could upset the calculation.
GBA-9 — Skardu-III (33,985 voters — 12 candidates)
Independent Wazir Muhammad Saleem won here in 2020 with 6,625 votes, subsequently joining PTI. PTI’s Fida Muhammad Nashad was second. In 2026, Nashad now contests for PPP, Ajmal Hussain for PML-N, Wazir Azhar Mehdi as the joint MWM-PTI candidate, and Saleem again as an independent. A closely fought three-way race is expected.
GBA-10 — Skardu-IV (34,946 voters — 13 candidates)
Independent Raja Nasir Ali Khan won here in 2020 with 5,124 votes and later aligned with PTI; Wazir Hassan of PTI finished second. Ali Khan now contests on a PPP ticket, Hassan under PML-N, Dr. Muhammad Sharif as PTI-backed independent, and Muhammad Khan Wazir for IPP. The primary battle is expected between PPP and PML-N.
Kharmang
GBA-11 — Kharmang (34,319 voters — 11 candidates)
This constituency delivered one of 2020’s starker verdicts: PTI’s Syed Amjad Ali Zaidi won with 6,858 votes, and both PPP and PML-N failed to secure enough votes to retain their election deposits — a significant humiliation for both parties. In 2026, both are back and seeking redemption: Iqbal Hassan for PPP, Syed Mohsin Rizvi for PML-N, Syed Mohsin Zaidi as PTI-backed independent, and Syed Amjad Ali contesting under ITP. A competitive contest is expected, with the outcome depending in part on how successfully PPP and PML-N have rebuilt local support in the intervening years.
Shigar
GBA-12 — Shigar (46,585 voters — 10 candidates)
Shigar was one of 2020’s clearest victories: PTI’s Raja Muhammad Azam Khan won by a substantial margin with 10,283 votes over PPP’s Imran Nadeem (7,814) and PML-N’s Muhammad Tahir Shigri (5,320). This time, Khan contests under ITP rather than PTI. Nadeem again carries PPP’s banner, Shigri that of PML-N, Advocate Muhammad Hassan Shigri runs as PTI-backed independent, and MWM fields Muhammad Saeed. A PPP-PML-N contest for second place — and possibly first — is expected, with the PTI-backed independent a potential spoiler.
Astore District
GBA-13 — Astore-I (43,997 voters — 13 candidates)
Perhaps the most emotionally charged contest in these elections. In 2020, PTI’s Khalid Khurshid won with 6,089 votes, going on to serve as the third Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan. With Khurshid now absent from the political arena, his mother Shahida Khurshid is contesting in his place as a PTI-backed independent — a striking moment for a region where such dynastic succession is not uncommon but rarely so direct. She faces PML-N’s Farman Ali, the 2020 runner-up, along with PPP’s Fahad Hanif, IPP’s Muhammad Shafi, and independent Dr. Ghulam Abbas. Political analysts believe the race will come down to Shahida Khurshid and Farman Ali.
GBA-14 — Astore-II (36,962 voters — 33 candidates)
With 33 candidates, Astore-II is among the most crowded contests in the region. PTI’s Shams-ul-Haq Lone won in 2020 with 5,237 votes, PPP’s Dr. Muzaffar Ali was second, and PML-N’s Rana Muhammad Farooq third. In 2026, Muhammad Abbas Mousavi stands for PPP, Farooq for PML-N, Lone for ITP, and Barkat Jameel as PTI-backed independent. A strong three-way contest is expected.
Diamer District
GBA-15 — Diamer-I (46,179 voters — 20 candidates)
In 2020, independent Haji Shah Baig won with just 2,779 votes — a margin that reflected how deeply fragmented the vote was. Muhammad Dilpazeer was second (2,728) and PTI’s Naushad Alam third (2,620). Baig now contests under ITP, Bashir Ahmed for PPP, Abdul Wajid for PML-N, and Alam as PTI-backed independent. A competitive multi-way race is expected again.
GBA-16 — Diamer-II (46,264 voters — 14 candidates)
Engineer Muhammad Anwar won here in 2020 with 5,605 votes over independent Ataullah (5,170) and PTI’s Atiq Ullah. This time Anwar runs under PML-N, Ataullah under PPP, Atiq Ullah under ITP, and Syed Abid Iqbal as PTI-backed independent. Observers expect a near-repeat of the 2020 tally, with Anwar and Ataullah likely going head to head again.
GBA-17 — Diamer-III, Darel (41,260 voters — 14 candidates)
The closest finish of the 2020 elections took place here: JUI’s Haji Rehmat Khaliq defeated PTI’s Haider Khan by just 18 votes — 5,468 to 5,450. That margin will hang over this election. Khaliq defends for JUI-P, Muhammad Zaman stands for PML-N, Muhammad Naseem for PPP, and Haji Kaman Khan as a PTI-backed independent. A strong multi-party contest is expected in one of GB’s most fiercely competitive constituencies.
GBA-18 — Diamer-IV, Tangir (26,899 voters — 10 candidates)
In 2020, PTI’s Haji Gulbar Khan — a former Chief Minister and the ITP provincial president — won with 4,059 votes over independent Malik Kifayat-ur-Rehman (3,544). Khan now contests under ITP, Kifayat-ur-Rehman under PML-N, with JUI’s Abdul Rashid and PTI-backed Ayub Qureshi also in the field. A tight rematch between the former chief minister and Kifayat-ur-Rehman is expected to define the outcome.
Ghizer District
GBA-19 — Ghizer-I (46,189 voters — 9 candidates)
Ghizer-I has a familiar axis: in 2020, independent Nawaz Khan Naji beat PPP’s Syed Jalal Ali Shah 6,468 to 5,393. Both are back, Naji again as independent and Shah again for PPP. Also in the field are PML-N’s Zafar Muhammad Shadmukhel, IPP’s Atif Salman, PTI-backed Sher Azeem Khan, and AWP’s Qadir Khan. The longstanding Naji–Shah rivalry is expected to define the result once more.
GBA-20 — Ghizer-II (52,806 voters — 17 candidates)
The largest electorate in Ghizer district. PTI’s Nazir Ahmed won in 2020 with 5,456 votes. He now contests under PPP, while former runner-up Khan Akbar Khan stands for IPP. Abdul Jehan contests for PML-N and Nadeem Ali as PTI-backed independent. A close contest between Ahmed and Khan Akbar Khan is anticipated, with PML-N as a significant third force.
GBA-21 — Ghizer-III (43,139 voters — 20 candidates)
PML-N’s Ghulam Muhammad won in 2020 with 4,938 votes over PPP’s Muhammad Ayub Shah (4,008) and independent Hafeez-ur-Rehman. Both return — Muhammad for PML-N, Shah for PPP. New entrants include IPP’s Jamila Khatoon (one of eight women in the election), PTI-backed Raja Jehangzeb, AWP’s Muhammad Aslam, and independent Aman Ali Amir. A three-way contest among PML-N, PPP and Amir is the expected picture.
Ghanche District
GBA-22 — Ghanche-I (36,601 voters — 7 candidates)
With only seven candidates, one of the least crowded contests in these elections. Independent Mushtaq Hussain won in 2020 with 5,545 votes; PTI’s Ibrahim Sanai was second (5,015). In 2026, Sanai contests under PML-N, Ashiq Hussain for PPP, Raza-ul-Haq for IPP, and PTI-backed Muhammad Akhtar Khan. A PML-N vs PPP contest is expected at the top.
GBA-23 — Ghanche-II (35,756 voters — 10 candidates)
The most unpredictable race in Ghanche. In 2020, independent Abdul Hameed won with 3,774 votes over PTI’s Amina Ansari (3,374), with independents Asif Hussain and Amanullah also performing strongly. Ansari now contests under PPP, Abdul Rahim as PTI-backed independent, Asif Hussain remains independent, and Rahmatullah stands for Jamaat-e-Islami. With no clear frontrunner and a competitive independent camp, the result here may be the hardest to predict in the entire election.
GBA-24 — Ghanche-III (25,081 voters — 6 candidates)
The smallest field in the election — just six candidates. Engineer Muhammad Ismail won decisively in 2020 with 6,239 votes over PTI’s Syed Shamsuddin (5,666). Ismail now contests under PPP, Sadaqat Hussain as PTI-backed independent, Altaf Hussain for PML-Q, and Asad Shafiq as a PML-N-backed independent. PPP enters as the clear favourite, though a combined PTI and PML-N challenge could make it more competitive than the last outing.
The Bigger Picture
Several themes cut across all 24 constituencies. The most striking is the fluidity of party allegiance: nearly every significant winner from 2020 has either switched parties, contests under a different banner, or is now standing against former allies. PTI’s near-total dominance of the last election has fragmented — former PTI winners are today scattered across ITP, IPP, PML-N, PPP and independent candidacies.
The increase of nearly 189,000 registered voters since 2020 could reshape competitive margins in several seats, particularly those decided by fewer than a thousand votes in the last cycle. Districts like Diamer, Astore and Ghanche — where results were tight — could see their outcomes determined by first-time voters.
PPP and PML-N appear to be the two parties with the widest organisational footprint across all six districts, while the PTI-backed independent bloc and the MWM-PTI alliance on select seats remain significant factors in Skardu and parts of Diamer. The newly formed Hunza National Alliance adds a distinct local dynamic in GBA-6.
With polling day approaching, Gilgit-Baltistan’s 24 constituencies are set to deliver one of the most competitive and consequential elections in the territory’s history.