Pakistan Army Accused Of Rigging Gilgit-Baltistan Polls, Backing LeT-Linked Candidates | Exclusive
Pakistan Army Accused Of Rigging Gilgit-Baltistan Polls, Backing LeT-Linked Candidates | Exclusive Reported By, Edited By Last Updated: June 01, 2026, 09:48 IST Critics have
Pakistan Army Accused Of Rigging Gilgit-Baltistan Polls, Backing LeT-Linked Candidates | Exclusive Reported By, Edited By Last Updated: June 01, 2026, 09:48 IST Critics have also accused the military leadership of reviving policies reminiscent of the era of General Zia-ul-Haq, who Islamisation policies across Pakistan Rapid Read Leaders associated with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have accused the military of preventing rivals from campaigning freely. Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir is facing allegations of orchestrating a pre-election crackdown in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) ahead of the region’s June 7 polls, with opposition leaders and local groups accusing the military establishment of blocking campaigning, manipulating the electoral process and facilitating the entry of candidates linked to a political outfit associated with the banned terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). According to top intelligence sources, Pakistan’s military establishment has backed candidates from the Pakistan Markazi Muslim League (PMML), widely viewed as a political front linked to LeT founder Hafiz Saeed, in the strategically important and Shia-majority Gilgit-Baltistan region. The development has triggered concerns among local political groups, who allege that the move is part of a broader attempt to reshape the region’s political and ideological landscape.
Sources said the fielding of PMML-linked candidates in GB has raised fears of sectarian polarisation in an area where Shia communities constitute a significant portion of the population. Opposition parties, including leaders associated with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), have accused the military of preventing rivals from campaigning freely. According to sources, PTI leaders and members of the Tehreek Tahafuz-e-Ayeen Pakistan (TTAP) alliance were allegedly stopped at Islamabad airport and prevented from travelling to Skardu to address election rallies. Local political activists claim that several opposition figures have been detained, expelled from the region or subjected to administrative restrictions in the run-up to polling, undermining confidence in the electoral process. “These actions reflect a pattern of pre-poll management designed to engineer a favourable outcome," a senior intelligence source said, alleging that the establishment was attempting to ensure the emergence of a compliant political leadership in the region. Critics have also accused the military leadership of reviving policies reminiscent of the era of former military ruler General Zia-ul-Haq, who Islamisation policies across Pakistan. Local voices in Gilgit-Baltistan allege that the encouragement of Sunni Islamist groups in the Shia-majority region is aimed at tightening Islamabad’s control over the territory and countering demands for greater political rights.
Opposition parties have further alleged irregularities in the electoral process, including manipulated voter lists and the circulation of fake ballot papers. Some leaders have warned of possible “Form 47-style" manipulation—a reference to allegations surrounding Pakistan’s 2024 general elections, where opposition parties accused authorities of altering results during the tabulation process. Sources also said Punjab government authorities have approved the deployment of 6,000 Punjab police force personnel to Gilgit-Baltistan for “election security duty" ahead of the polls and the officers will be equipped with anti-riot gear and transported with specific arrangements. The Opposition, however, accused the force of moving to the area for “rigging" polls. Intelligence sources described the developments as part of what they termed a long-standing “deep state strategy" to maintain control over Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan through a combination of electoral management and the use of political proxies. They further claimed that the introduction of LeT-linked political fronts into the region could deepen sectarian divisions and potentially alter the area’s demographic and ideological character. Pakistan’s government and military have repeatedly denied allegations of interference in electoral processes and maintain that elections in Gilgit-Baltistan are conducted in accordance with constitutional and legal procedures.
India, meanwhile, continues to maintain that Gilgit-Baltistan, along with the wider Pakistan-occupied territories of the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, is an integral part of India and remains under Pakistan’s illegal occupation. The June 7 election is expected to be closely watched amid rising political tensions, allegations of state interference and concerns over the growing role of extremist-linked political actors in the region. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location: Islamabad, Pakistan First Published: June 01, 2026, 09:46 IST News world Pakistan Army Accused Of Rigging Gilgit-Baltistan Polls, Backing LeT-Linked Candidates | Exclusive Disclaimer: Comments reflect users’ views, not News18’s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
The BriefWire