At a National Press Club Islamabad briefing, former Gilgit Baltistan chief minister Haji Gulbar Khan announced the formation of a new Gilgit Baltistan group that will field candidates in all 24 constituencies in the 2026 election. He presented the platform alongside former provincial ministers and leaders including Raja Azam Khan, Haji Shah Baig, Shams ul Haq, Khan Akbar Khan, Iman Shah, Fatah Ullah Khan, Zafar Mohammad Shadam Khail, Capt (R) Muhammad Shafi and Maulana Sultan Raees.
The group said it was created to provide a unified and strong platform for candidates, drawing on the Forward Block experience after the July 2023 disqualification of Khalid Khurshid and subsequent political realignments. The new Gilgit Baltistan group emphasized that doors remain open for dialogue with all political parties and that a decision on joining any national party will follow further consultations.
Haji Gulbar Khan highlighted the group’s governance record as the basis for the campaign, citing measures such as increasing the wheat quota and digitalizing the distribution process to end shortages, passage of the Leaders Reform Act to transfer government-held public lands back to local owners, and digital reforms in the Mines and Minerals Department to boost transparency. He said these achievements demonstrate the group’s focus on practical solutions for local problems despite financial and administrative constraints.
Officials also noted progress in addressing longstanding staff grievances by resolving legitimate demands of teachers, doctors and paramedical staff that previously led to strikes. The Gilgit Baltistan group framed these steps as part of a broader agenda of administrative reform and service delivery ahead of the 2026 polls.
The announcement traced recent political developments, noting that following the July 4, 2023 court verdict that disqualified Khalid Khurshid, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Forward Block formed and elected its leader of the house on July 13, 2023, expressing full confidence in Haji Gulbar Khan, who served as chief minister until November 24, 2025. Leaders said the Forward Block’s transition into the Gilgit Baltistan group was driven by the need to provide an electoral platform for like-minded representatives.
Looking toward the election, the Gilgit Baltistan group pledged to present strong candidates across every constituency, pursue governance through a mandate from the people, and focus on resolving regional issues through effective administration and digital initiatives. The group framed its campaign as an effort to win maximum seats and deliver practical results for the people of Gilgit Baltistan.
