PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has urged the Chief Justice of the Supreme Appellate Court of Gilgit-Baltistan to ensure transparency, fairness and impartiality in the upcoming Gilgit-Baltistan elections, citing concerns over what he described as a deteriorating electoral environment.

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Concerns over electoral process Call for equal political space

In a letter addressed to the chief justice, Afridi called for judicial intervention ahead of the June 7 elections, arguing that reported restrictions on political activities could undermine the credibility and integrity of the electoral process.

The appeal comes amid allegations by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders that their election campaign activities in Gilgit-Baltistan have faced obstacles.

Earlier on Saturday, PTI leader Asad Qaiser claimed he was prevented from reaching Islamabad International Airport, causing him to miss a flight to Skardu where he was scheduled to participate in campaign events. The development followed reports that PTI MNA Junaid Akbar and members of his team were expelled from Gilgit-Baltistan while campaigning for the upcoming polls.

Concerns over electoral process

Afridi said reports emerging from Gilgit-Baltistan were “extremely concerning” and warranted immediate judicial attention.

According to the letter, one political party was allegedly facing difficulties in conducting routine election activities, including holding public gatherings, organising campaign events and facilitating the movement of party leaders and workers.

The chief minister also expressed concern over reports of political workers being harassed, detained and prevented from participating in political activities.

He warned that such actions, if left unchecked, could affect public confidence in the electoral process and raise questions about the fairness of the elections.

Call for equal political space

Afridi stated that Pakistan’s Constitution guarantees citizens and political parties the right to participate in free, fair and transparent elections.

He urged the court to direct relevant authorities to ensure equal opportunities for all political parties to conduct election campaigns without discrimination and to take action against any violations of constitutional rights.

The chief minister said timely judicial intervention was necessary to uphold democratic principles and protect the integrity of the electoral process.

Separately, local government elections in Gilgit-Baltistan have been scheduled for June 14, according to an official notification. The notification also noted that the election programme for the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly elections had been withdrawn on December 18, 2025.