SC orders re-election in Balochistan’s PB-50 constituency

Court annuls ECP’s order of re-polling at only six polling stations

ISLAMABAD:

The Supreme Court ordered re-election on Monday for Balochistan's PB-50 Qilla Abdullah constituency after mutual consent of all political parties and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Qazi Faiz Isa heard the case. The court annulled ECP’s earlier order of repolling at six polling stations and ordered the electoral watchdog to conduct fresh polls in the constituency as per the law.

Awami National Party’s (ANP) Zamard Khan challenged the ECP’s order and contended that the turnout at many polling stations of the constituency remained low.

Read: Elections held transparently, peacefully: CEC

The week following the elections in Balochistan was marred by protests from political and religious parties that took to the streets against alleged election irregularities including rigging, manipulation of results, and undue delays in the announcement of poll results.

Despite calls for restraint and appeals for dialogue, political and religious groups had persisted in holding rallies and demonstrations and had intensified their demands for electoral transparency and accountability.

The ANP leader’s claim of low turnout could be termed as the outcome of the several acts of terrorism that unfolded in Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa when the general elections were just around the corner.