File photo of the Election Commission of Pakistan's office in Islamabad: Photo taken from Radio Pakistan's Twitter account

News Desk:

Political parties have blamed the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for making special wards for influential people in Balochistan’s Naseerabad and Pishin districts. Quetta Voice has also received multiple complaints from various parts of the province challenging the delimitations and formation of wards for the upcoming general elections.

“Under a pre-planned conspiracy, special wards have been created for the ruling party”, Mir Muhammad Sadiq Umrani, the Central leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) claimed. Mr. Umrani stated that in violation of Balochistan local government rules, wards were made on a population of 161, 151, and 239 people instead of 1700 people.

“Rulers want to snatch elections from the masses”, Sanaullah Agha, a leader of the Awami National Party (ANP) from Pishin complained. Mr. Agha said a majority of the voters were deprived and specific wards were made for the influential people in district Pishin.

Relevant officials have tried to present the success of the local body elections as a gift to the political families of their choice, which is strongly condemned by the opposition. The party is also fielding its strongest candidate in Naseerabad across the province. Despite the best efforts of the opposition, the PPP will win by sweeping the entire district, Mir Sadiq Umrani said.

There was no immediate response from the election commission of Pakistan regarding the complaints of political  parties.

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Quetta Voice is an English Daily covering all unfolding political, economic and social issues relating to Balochistan, Pakistan's largest province in terms of area. QV's main focus is on stories related to education, promotion of quality education and publishing reports about out of school children in the province. QV has also a vigilant eye on health, climate change and other key sectors.