Syed Ali Shah, Sardar Muhammad Khondai, Aziz Marri, Manan Mandokhail, Rehman Musakhail:
QUETTA:
Independent candidates have secured most of the seats in the local bodies’ elections held in 32 districts of Balochistan on Sunday. Despite threats and intimidation, almost peaceful elections were held after a period of nine years. However, one person was killed during an exchange of fire between two rival groups in Balochistan’s Noshki district. Initial information suggests voter turnout was high in various parts of Balochistan.
As per the initial polling results, independent candidates have won 1058 seats, Jamiat ul Ulema e Islam (JUI) has got 98 seats, the ruling Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) 71, Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party 39, National Party (NP) 26, Balochistan National National Party (Mengal) 18, Pakistan Tehrik e Insaf (PTI) 10, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) 26, Pakistan Muslim League (N) 6.
Over three dozen people were injured in violent clashes
Over three dozen people were injured as a result of clashes between rival groups in various parts of Balochistan. In the Naseerabad district, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Mir Sadiq Umrani blamed the administration for supporting the BAP candidates. “Our 30 workers were subjected to torture by the BAP minister”, Mr. Umrani claimed.
Over 17,000 candidates were contesting the local bodies’ elections across the province. “Throughout the province, one person was killed”, the Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Hashim Ghilzai said. Security was tightened in all 32 districts of Balochistan to maintain a law and order situation.
Candidates were contesting 4,456 councilors seats
The provincial government had declared over 2,000 polling stations sensitive in all 32 districts. Besides levies and police, the provincial government had also deployed the frontier corps to maintain the order at all susceptible and sensitive polling stations in the province.
The candidates were contesting 4456 seats of the councilors. A total of 1584 councilors were elected unopposed across Balochistan. Sources in the election commission said that elections would be held on 108 wards because of some disputes and objections by the political parties.
