Syed Ali Shah:
QUETTA:Â In a recent development, the Election Commission has officially announced the success of Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the Chief of Jamiat ul Ulema e Islam (JUI), along with five other candidates from Balochistan.
Maulana Fazlur Rehman, amidst pressure from the former ruling party PTI, contested elections from Pishin, Balochistan, with backing from Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party (PKMAP) led by Mehmood Khan Achakzai.
Badini, Haideri, Raisani And Bazai Also Declared Winners
The declared winners include Muhammad Usman Badini and Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haidari from JUI in NA 260 and NA 261 respectively. Additionally, Adil Khan Bazai, an independent candidate from Quetta, clinched victory in NA 262, while Jamal Raisani secured the win for the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) in NA 264.
However, the victory notifications for Mehmood Khan Achakzai of PKMAP and Sardar Akhtar Mengal of Balochistan National Party (BNP) are still awaited, despite unofficial results declaring them winners of NA 266 and NA 256 respectively.
Balochistan Holds A Total Of 20 NA Seats
With 16 general seats and four reserved seats in the National Assembly, Balochistan holds a total of 20 NA seats.
Amidst allegations of electoral malpractice, Maulana Fazal ur Rehman and major Baloch and Pashtoon nationalist parties have rejected the election outcomes, accusing the Election Commission and returning officers (ROs) of manipulating results.
A coalition comprising BNP Mengal, PKMAP, National Party (NP), and Hazara Democratic Party (HDP) has united to protest what they label as ‘rigged’ elections in Balochistan. The ongoing demonstrations in Quetta and other parts of Balochistan, now in their eighth day, are poised to culminate in a significant protest gathering on February 17, aimed at pressuring the Election Commission to address their grievances.
