Gilgit-Baltistan Journalists Forum Rawalpindi/Islamabad Announces Annual Election Results

Islamabad, February 15, 2026 – The Gilgit-Baltistan Journalists Forum (GBJF) in Rawalpindi/Islamabad has declared the results of its annual elections, ushering in a new leadership team to represent the region’s media professionals.
According to the election outcomes, Syed Arif Hussain Kazmi has been elected as President, Ali Sher as General Secretary, and Ashfaq Ahmed as Secretary Finance, with the latter securing the position unopposed.
The elections, held on Sunday at the Gilgit-Baltistan House in Islamabad, featured a contest for the presidency between Syed Arif Hussain Kazmi and Roshan Din Diya Mari. Kazmi emerged victorious with 35 votes. For the General Secretary role, Ali Sher competed against Abdul Hussain Azad and won with 33 votes.
The results were announced by Election Committee Chairman Ghulam Uddin (GD) in the presence of committee members Ijaz Hussain and Shafqat Ali at the Gilgit-Baltistan House.
Polling took place uninterrupted from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with 42 out of 51 members exercising their voting rights, resulting in an impressive turnout of 82.35%.
During the polling process, notable figures including Speaker of the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly Nazir Ahmed Advocate, Caretaker Minister for Forests Sharafat Din, Caretaker Minister for Education Bahadur Ali, and Minister for Women’s Development Syeda Fatima visited to oversee the proceedings and engage with journalists on regional and national issues. The Speaker and other caretaker ministers emphasized that journalists from Gilgit-Baltistan residing in Islamabad and Rawalpindi serve as a powerful voice for their region, and strengthening them is in the best interest of the area.
This election highlights the vibrant democratic process within the forum, aimed at advancing the interests of Gilgit-Baltistan’s media community.