GILGIT (Kashmir English): Justice Raja Shakeel Ahmed, judge of the Appellate Tribunal, has disqualified six candidates from contesting elections as he rejected their appeals against the decisions of returning officers.
The tribunal upheld the decisions of the returning officers in the appeals filed by six candidates, disqualifying them for the upcoming elections in the region.
However, the tribunal accepted appeals filed by three other candidates by nullifying the decisions of the returning officers. The candidates declared qualified by the Election Appellate Tribunal include Mubashir Hussain (GBA 22, Ghizer 1), Muhammad Akhtar Khan (GBA 22, Ghanche 1), and Muhammad Iqbal Bulghari (GBA 22, Ghanche 10).
Meanwhile, an appeal titled Mir Furqan Shah vs. Returning Officer, Hunza was accepted for hearing and adjourned until May 6.
Similarly, the decision in the case against Bakhtawar Shah (GBA 20, Ghizer 2) has been reserved and will be announced on May 8.
Furthermore, the Election Appellate Tribunal, upholding the decisions of the returning officers, disqualified the following candidates: Gohar Shah (GBA 19, Ghizer 1), Jabir (GBA 19, Ghizer 1), Sher Amin (GBA 19, Ghizer 1), Muhammad Tahir (GBA 22, Ghanche 1), Salman Ghazi (GBA 19, Ghizer 1), and Syed Sadaqat Ali (GBA 19, Ghizer 1).
Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly elections
The general elections for the Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) Legislative Assembly are scheduled to be held on June 7, 2026. Initially planned for January 24, 2026, the polls were rescheduled by the Election Commission of Gilgit-Baltistan after a consensus among political parties that harsh winter weather and heavy snowfall would prevent voters in remote areas from participating.
