Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto is set to visit Skardu today as political activities intensify ahead of the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly elections scheduled for June 7.
The visit comes at a crucial time as election campaigns across the region enter their final phase. Political parties are increasing their outreach efforts to attract voters before polling day.
According to reports, Bilawal Bhutto will hold meetings with party candidates and office-bearers during his visit. The PPP chairman is also expected to review election preparations and discuss campaign strategies with local leaders.
On Monday, Bilawal Bhutto will address a public rally in Shigar, where he is expected to present the party’s vision for the region and mobilize support ahead of the elections.
Meanwhile, rival political parties are also actively campaigning across Gilgit-Baltistan. Senior leaders of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) are scheduled to address public gatherings at three different locations as the political contest gains momentum.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has already released the final list of candidates for the 2026 Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly elections. A total of 396 candidates will contest the polls, making it one of the most competitive elections in the region.
According to the final list, 266 candidates are running as independents, while 120 candidates are affiliated with political parties. The election race also includes eight women candidates, five of whom are contesting as independents.
Among the major parties, Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians has fielded 23 candidates, while PML-N has nominated 22 candidates. Several other political and religious parties are also participating in the elections with varying numbers of candidates.
To ensure security during the election process, authorities have decided to deploy around 5,000 Punjab Police personnel in Gilgit-Baltistan. The deployment includes officers from the Riot Management Force, Punjab Constabulary, Punjab Highway Patrol, and Lahore Police.
In a separate development, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders recently faced difficulties while campaigning in the region. PTI Khyber Pakhtunkhwa President Junaid Akbar Khan and several party lawmakers were detained by Gilgit-Baltistan Police during an election visit.
According to party representatives, the leaders were informed that they did not possess the required no-objection certificate (NOC). The PTI leaders were later directed to leave the area.
Junaid Akbar criticized the restrictions, arguing that political workers should be allowed to campaign freely in Gilgit-Baltistan. He questioned the requirement for special permission and called for fair political competition ahead of the elections.
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With only days remaining before polling, political activity across Gilgit-Baltistan continues to intensify. The upcoming visit of Bilawal Bhutto is expected to further energize the campaign as parties make their final efforts to win voter support before June 7.
