Staff Reporter :
QUETTA: Amid tight security, local bodies elections would be held in 32 districts of Balochistan on May 29 (Sunday). Chief Secretary Balochistan, Abdul Aziz Uqaili chaired a high-level meeting to review security arrangements for the upcoming LBs elections in the province. Except for Quetta and Lasbella districts, elections are being held throughout the province. Flaws in delimitations and formation of wards are already reported by this daily.
Election materials would be dispatched to all polling stations on May 28, sources within the election commission of Pakistan said. A total of 5,236 polling stations have been established in 32 districts of Balochistan to empower the masses to cast their votes.
“Foolproof security should be provided to all voters”, Mr. Uqaili directed. Additional Chief Secretary (Home), Inspector General of Police, Mohsin Hassan Butt, Secretary Local Government, and other high-ups attended the meeting, which reviewed overall security arrangements for the upcoming polls.
Over 2,000 polling stations were declared sensitive in Balochistan
The ECP has declared over 2,000 polling stations sensitive and the provincial government has enhanced security to avert any untoward incident on the eve of polls. In Balochistan, a total of 17,774 candidates are contesting the LBs elections.
The Chief Secretary directed all divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners to beef up security across the province. “Contact political people and apprise them about security arrangements”, Mr. Uqaili told the participants of the high-level meeting.
132 women candidates are also contesting LBs elections on general seats
For general seats, currently, 132 women candidates are also contesting in the province, the ECP sources stated. The number of male registered voters across Balochistan is 20,43,428, whereas, the number of female voters is 15,70,896.
Over 13,000 polling booths would be set up at all polling stations to make sure uninterrupted vote casting on May 29. The CS directed all law enforcement agencies to improve mutual coordination to ensure peace and cope with any emergency situation on the eve of elections.
The ECP announced the holding of the LBs elections despite repeated requests by the Balochistan government to delay them because of financial and administrative issues.
