Gilgit (PoGB), December 9 (ANI) — As Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan (PoGB) moves toward its 2026 assembly elections, public frustration is mounting over the composition of the new caretaker administration. Many residents say the interim setup already appears compromised before it assumes office.
Longstanding grievances about alleged mismanagement by past governments have fed scepticism about the transition process. Critics argue outgoing officials focused on personal privileges rather than public services, leaving a generation of young people disillusioned and politically disengaged.
The discontent was voiced at a recent meeting at the Gilgit Press Club, where speakers accused the caretaker arrangement—mandated to be neutral—of coming under the influence of former ministers and political advisers. Attendees alleged that those with ties to the previous government are attempting to capture positions in the interim setup through financial inducements and institutional pressure.
Participants warned that efforts to install loyalists using “money power and blackmail” will undermine the credibility of the body meant to oversee the electoral process. Their criticism has extended to the institutions responsible for managing elections, with calls for greater transparency and impartiality.
Speakers at the press event questioned the point of having a caretaker administration if it cannot guarantee free and fair elections. Many in PoGB said they feel politically sidelined and denied the dignity and accountability promised during past campaigns.
Protesters and civic activists demanded the caretaker government act strictly as a neutral arbiter to preserve the legitimacy of the 2026 polls. They warned that anyone found to be manipulating institutions or misusing authority would be held to account by the public.
(This report is sourced from a syndicated feed and published as received; the publisher assumes no responsibility for its accuracy or completeness.)
