Daily Times

The least populated province of Pakistan was also swept away in election fury, as local and national political parties contested for Balochistan’s 50 Provincial Assembly and 16 National Assembly seats.

Reports coming from several districts of Balochistan confirm that the slow process of voting, in addition with the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) refusal to extend polling times, and bomb-blast outside a polling station in Quetta, claimed by Islamic State (IS), could reduce over-all voter turnout in the province.

According to the partial unofficial results available at the time this report was filed, Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), Balochistan National Party (BNP-Mengal) and Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) were leading from both rural and urban constituencies in the province.BNP-Mengal claimed rigging by presiding polling officers in PB-48 and NA-271. In letters written by the party to the ECP, BNP-Mengal alleged that the officers were favoring candidates from BAP.

On the other hand, Nawab Jangez Marri, BAP candidate for PB-9 Kohlu claimed that his supporters were not allowed to enter Kohlu district to cast their votes.

Outside of Quetta, polling was largely peaceful in Balochistan. In Panjgur, reportedly rockets were fired near the BNP-Awami election camp which wounded one person. There were also reports of rocket attacks in Buleda area of Kech district, which could not be confirmed officially. Additionally minor scuffle between the supporters of various candidates were reported from Naseerabad and Duki district.

Published in Daily Times, July 26^th 2018.