Taliban-era Afghan governor in run for PB-26 seat: HDP

Party leaders claim efforts are being made to deprive community of political rights

QUETTA: Hazara Democratic Party (HDP) has claimed that rival parties have fielded a Taliban-era governor of an Afghan province against its candidate in the by-election for PB-26 Quetta III and that the party is ready to defeat him.

The was stated by HDP Chairman Abdul Khaliq Hazara, Secretary General Ahmed Ali Kohzad, Seema Sahar and other party leaders while speaking at a public meeting held in Hazara Town on Friday in connection with the election campaign of their candidate Qadir Nayil who is also being supported by the ruling Balochistan Awami Party.

The by-poll is being held for provincial assembly seat that fell vacant after the HDP’s candidate Ahmed Ali Kohzad, who had won general elections on July 25, was disqualified by Election Commission of Pakistan for being an Afghan national.

The HDP leaders said the rival parties had fielded the same person who was defeated in the general election and through a conspiracy such elements were making efforts to deprive Hazara community of their due political rights.



However, they said that the people of the constituency were aware of the conspiracy and would foil it through the power of their vote.

The HDP leaders also said that the people of the area had given their decision through attending public meeting in large numbers. They were happy to observe that participants included tens of thousands of women who were there to express their solidarity with the HDP candidate.

They said that the HDP had very brotherly relations with Baloch, Pashtoon and other nationalities and extended support to all democratic forces in the province as it believes in the supremacy of Constitution, democratic norms and tradition.

They added the HDP played its role in strengthening democracy and upholding the constitutional rule in the country.

They said that democratic forces who struggled for the restoration of democracy and rule of law were supporting the HDP candidate in the by-election.

The party leaders said that their rival candidate did not belong to the area and had no awareness about the issues of the people in PB-26 Quetta III. On the other hand, Nayil is a well-known journalist and political worker who helped the people in resolving their problems.

Sardar Sahil, Zulfiqar Batoor, Dr Aziz and other leaders of HDP also spoke on the occasion and thanked the people for their participation in the public meeting in such large number.