Election concludes amid low turnout, security concerns in Balochistan

QUETTA:

The polling process in Balochistan concluded on Thursday under stringent security measures, with, however, a noticeable low voter turnout across the province.

Supporters of various political parties were actively present near polling stations, guiding voters in casting their ballots.

Despite the palpable absence of enthusiasm, voters exercised their right to vote, expressing mixed sentiments. Waris Baloch, a resident of Saryab Road in Quetta, lamented the diminished excitement and people's interest in these elections compared to his childhood experiences. He attributed the decline in participation to the perceived disappointment with political leaders.

Contrarily, Mohammad Hussain from Hazara Town, Quetta remarked on the significant turnout, including active female participation. His observation contradicted the overall trend of low participation reported in other areas.

Provincial Election Commissioner Mohammad Fareed Afridi had reassured the public of an uninterrupted and peaceful polling process throughout the province. However, reports surfaced regarding journalists being denied coverage within polling stations, a move strongly condemned by the Balochistan Union of Journalists.

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A fully functional control room, tasked with monitoring the polling process and addressing immediate complaints, was set up. Despite the absence of reported complaints, the Balochistan Chief Secretary emphasised the continuous review of arrangements for free, fair, and peaceful polls.

The election process, supervised by the District Election Commissioner and Returning Officers, unfolded from 8:00am to 5:00pm without any interruptions. Stringent security arrangements, including police levies and FC personnel at polling stations, were implemented to ensure the safety of voters and election staff.

Jan Achakzai, the Caretaker Information Minister of Balochistan, reiterated the government's commitment to a peaceful electoral process. He reported that polling was conducted peacefully, and citizens exercised their right to vote, emphasising that anti-peace elements faced defeat in both Pashtun and Baloch-dominated areas.

Despite the overall calm, the information minister expressed condolences for the tragic incidents that took place a day earlier in Pishin and Qila Saifullah. He deplored the attempts by miscreants to target Pashtun-majority areas to influence the election process, emphasising their failure in these nefarious designs. The minister concluded by highlighting that such elements do not represent the resilient people of Balochistan.