Balochistan political parties voice concern over delimitations

CM Bizenjo assures he will take up issue with ECP

QUETTA:

Chief Minister Balochistan, Mir Quddus Bizenjo on Thursday assured the political parties that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) would be apprised about the delimitation issues in Quetta and other parts of the province.

Nearly all political parties in Balochistan have expressed concern over recent delimitations in Quetta and other parts of the province. “Government has decided to convey the reservations and apprehensions of political parties to the ECP”, Chief Minister told a delegation of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI).

Opposition leader in Balochistan Assembly, Malik Sikandar Advocate, Maulana Muhamamd Rafique, and others called on the CM and apprised him of their reservations about delimitations.

JUI, the second-largest parliamentary group in Balochistan Assembly proposed an end to A and B areas in Quetta and put forward a proposal to divide the provincial capital into five towns.

The CM assured the delegation that their proposals would be considered by the provincial government.

CM remarks have come after Balochistan National Party (Mengal), JUI F, and National Party staged protest demonstrations outside the ECP office in Quetta to protest over the recent delimitations.

Chief Minister said that the holding of the local bodies’ elections in Balochistan was a major achievement on the part of the provincial government.

“I decided not to visit any district to ensure transparency and impartiality in the LG polls,” he said.

Bizenjo said that police, levies, and all law enforcement agencies played an important role in maintaining the law and order situation during LG elections in Balochistan.

“No terror activity took place because of strict security arrangements,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 17^th, 2022.