Gilgit-Baltistan has a new elected government after a long gap. Polling for the 24 general seats of the fourth Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly took place on June 7, 2026, after the Election Commission postponed the original January 24 date because of harsh winter weather, according to the election record.
The results
Turnout was 57.69% of 960,496 registered voters. The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) emerged as the largest party with 15 of the 33 seats once reserved seats were allocated, followed by PML-N with 9 and the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) with 7, mostly through independents who joined it. A PTI-backed independent and MWM won one seat each.
- PPP: 163,149 votes (29.94%)
- PML-N: 120,546 votes (22.12%)
- IPP: 41,958 votes (7.70%)
- PTI: 36,773 votes (6.75%)
The power-sharing deal
On June 20, PPP and PML-N agreed that PPP would take the chief minister’s and speaker’s posts, while PML-N would get the governor, deputy speaker and leader of the opposition. IPP backed the PPP-led alliance. On June 22, Amjad Hussain Azar was elected chief minister unopposed and took the oath on July 6.
Who is Amjad Hussain Azar?
Born in Gilgit in 1975, Azar is a lawyer and former president of the Gilgit-Baltistan High Court Bar Association, Pamir Times reported. He led PPP in the region from 2015 and was leader of the opposition from 2020 to 2023. He is associated with the “Haq-e-Hukumat” and “Haq-e-Malkiat” campaigns for greater political rights and land ownership for the region’s people.
What residents want
Winter readiness
With winter approaching, electricity shortages, road closures and fuel supply are perennial concerns in the mountain districts.
Land and governance
Land ownership rights and greater administrative authority remain central demands, and the new government’s record will be judged on them.
Read more in our Gilgit-Baltistan section and national politics coverage.
Sources are linked throughout this article. AajMirror verifies figures against the original reports; if you spot an error, see our corrections policy.