LAHORE: The Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) on Thursday finalized its electoral strategy for the upcoming Gilgit-Baltistan general elections 2026 and announced candidates for nine constituencies in the first phase as the party gears up for the June 7 polls.
The decisions were taken during a meeting of the party’s 20-member Electoral Board chaired by IPP President Abdul Aleem Khan. The board reviewed the political landscape across all 24 constituencies of Gilgit-Baltistan and approved an initial list of candidates.
The candidates finalized for party tickets included Maulana Sultan Rais, Fatahullah Khan, Captain Shafi Ullah Khan (Retd), Emaan Shah, Raja Jalal Hussain, Shams-ul-Haq Lone, Haji Shah Baig, Haji Gulbar Khan, and Khan Akbar Khan. The remaining candidates are expected to be announced in the coming days.
The meeting also discussed the possibility of an electoral alliance with Islamic Tehreek Pakistan, with consultations underway. The party leadership indicated that its future strategy would be aligned with evolving political dynamics and the positioning of rival parties. In addition, the Electoral Board decided to soon finalize nominees for nine reserved seats for women and technocrats.
Addressing the meeting, Abdul Aleem Khan said the party would contest the elections in a “strong and effective manner,” adding that IPP lawmakers and senior leaders would launch an election campaign tour of Gilgit-Baltistan next week.
Participants were briefed on the region’s electoral situation, with several leaders, including members of the National Assembly, joining via video link. Senior party figures from Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, South Punjab, and Gilgit-Baltistan attended the session and shared constituency-level insights. The participants expressed confidence in the party leadership and voiced optimism about IPP’s prospects in the upcoming elections.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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