PPP, NP strengthen position in Balochistan

BAP, BNP suffer major blows; most heavyweights retain seats

The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), as expected, performed well in the provincial assembly elections, securing nine seats in the 65-member house. However, Thursday's election results dealt a significant blow to the former ruling party, the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), which was reduced to just two seats.

While official results were pending from the election authorities at the time of this report, tallies compiled by the concerned candidates and other sources indicate that overall, the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) performed well in Baloch-dominated areas rather than its traditional stronghold in the Pashtun belt.

Throughout Friday, conflicting reports about the victory and defeat of candidates dominated the social media platforms with supporters of every party and candidate claiming victory. Also, there was a demonstration outside the Quetta Press Club by the Pashtoonkhwa National Awami Party (PNAP).

In the provincial assembly, the PPP emerged as the frontrunner, securing nine seats, while the National Party (NP), a Baloch nationalist party, experienced a modest resurgence. Conversely, the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) and the Balochistan National Party (BNP) faced significant setbacks in Quetta and other regions of Balochistan.

However, Sardar Akhtar Mengal, the chief of BNP-Mengal, leveled serious allegations against the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and the caretaker government, accusing them of favoring "blue-eyed" candidates over those from his party across the province.

Read also: Election concludes amid low turnout, security concerns in Balochistan

Most of the political heavyweights retained their seats in the provincial assembly, including former chief ministers, Nawab Aslam Raisani, Jam Kamal Khan, and Dr Abdul Malik Baloch. Besides former caretaker interior minister Sarfaraz Ahmed Bugti and Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani also won the elections.

Other notable figures who secured seats in the Balochistan Assembly include Sardar Saleh Bhootani, Sardar Sarfaraz Domki, Mir Sadiq Umrani, Sardar Masood Luni, Sardar Abdul Rehman Kheteran, and several others. Among them, the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) had managed to secure two seats, won by Bhootani and Tariq Magsi.

On the National Assembly contests, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, who lost the election in his hometown of Dera Ismail Khan, won from Balochistan. Fazl defeated PNAP chief Khushal Khan Kakar on the contest for NA 265, Pishin.

Mehmood Khan Achakzai, the chief of Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party (PKMAP) emerged victorious on NA-266 Chaman-Killa Abdullah. Meanwhile, the PNAP protested outside the Quetta Press Club, demanding immediate announcement of the result of the NA-251 Zhob-Killa Saifullah constituency.