Editorial :
Initial delimitations of union councils and formation of wards suggest serious flaws regarding the upcoming local bodies elections in Balochistan. Technically or deliberately, the election commission of Pakistan has surpassed all past records of mismanagement/faults in terms of formation of new wards and delimitations of union councils across the province, which covers half of the country in terms of area.
Local bodies elections are scheduled to be held on May 29th throughout Balochistan except Quetta and Lasbella districts because of some delimitation issues. The Balochistan High Court (BHC) has also ordered the election commission of Pakistan to address the grievances of the people in Zhob, Pishin and other districts of the province regarding the formation of new wards.
For instance, in Pishin’s Chur Badizai and Toorkhail union councils, the election commission has made one ward comprising 32 voters, whereas, another ward comprising of more than 5,000 voters. Votes of people from quite far away have been registered in the union council. This has created doubt among the people of the area about the credibility and transparency about the upcoming LBs elections.
In Naseerabad district, political and tribal personalities have also expressed serious reservations and apprehensions about the establishment of new wards and delimitations of union councils. People have accused the ECP of making special wards for politically and tribally influential people, thus depriving majority of the people.
This daily has received scores of complaints regarding the flaws in the establishment of new wards and delimitation of union councils. The ECP has to take an urgent notice of the complaints of the people and make sure fair and transparent elections to devolve the power on grassroots level in a transparent way.
LBs elections play crucial role in the development of country and nation. The ECP has to perform its constitutional responsibility and address the grievances of the masses and restore their confidence. Every individual has to be given the right to vote in his and her area to elect future representatives.
The ECP’s Quetta office has responded to the complaints of the political parties and individuals. However, it needs to step up efforts to address the grievances of voters before it is already late.
