Balochistan crisis: National Party calls for transparent elections

NP president says his party will soon launch a full-fledged campaign in the province.

QUETTA:

President of the National Party (NP), Dr Abdul Malik Baloch, on Tuesday said a free and fair election is the need of hour while warning that any interference in the electoral process for the upcoming polls would not be tolerated.

Speaking at a press conference here, flanked by NP secretary general Tahir Bizenjo and senior vice president Mir Hasil Bizenjo, Baloch said irregularities in the elections can further deteriorate the situation in the province.

The NP leader, whose party boycotted the polls in 2008, said the current government has failed to deliver on any of its promises, adding that it is the duty of the federal and provincial governments to address the grievances of people in all circumstances.



Baloch went on to decry the lack of seriousness on the part of the Balochistan government, saying the crisis in the province is reaching a tipping point. He also criticised the government for maintaining poor education standards in the province.



Asked about his party’s election strategy, Baloch said the party will soon launch a full-fledged campaign in various Baloch and Pashtun areas of the province. Admitting that his party is in contact with the leadership of the Balochistan National Party (BNP), he said his party wants ‘real’ leaders to be selected for the caretaker set-up.

Meanwhile, senior vice president Hasil Bizenjo said Baloch representation in the National Assembly is insignificant and that his party will work to increase the number of seats in NA by 13%.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 26^th, 2012.