Balochistan elections: CEC says change comes from ballot, not bullet
Asks Baloch leaders to participate in elections; caretaker CM Barozai meets BNP-M chief Mengal.
Chief Election Commissioner Fakhruddin G Ebrahim meets with interim Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Ghous Bakhsh Barozai. PHOTO: EXPRESS
QUETTA/KARACHI:
In an effort to ensure smooth elections in Balochistan, Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan Justice (ret’d) Fakhruddin G Ebrahim made an impassioned plea to Baloch political leaders to take part in the upcoming general elections.
“Change does not come from the bullet but from the ballot box and by casting a vote,” the CEC said, in a direct appeal to Baloch nationalists.
CEC Ebrahim is currently touring Balochistan to review the law and order situation in the province and hear the grievances of disgruntled Baloch leaders.
He asked all political parties in the province to participate in the elections, saying that “the future of Pakistan is linked with free and fair polls.”
In 2008, most Baloch nationalist parties boycotted elections to protest the ongoing military operation and the killing of Nawab Akbar Bugti. This time, several nationalist parties are throwing their hats into the electoral ring.
During his visit, CEC Ebrahim met with the PML-N’s Sanaullah Zehri and Lashkari Raisani, JUI-F’s Maulana Abdul Wasey, National Party’s Abdul Khaliq Baloch and the Balochistan National Party-Awami’s Wahid Baloch, among other political leaders.
“Our motive to come here and meet the leaders of political parties is to understand the problems and difficulties they are facing,” the CEC said.
While noting the problems political parties have been facing in the wake of the elections, CEC Ebrahim assured them that the commission would resolve their problems.
Denying that there were any ‘no go’ areas in Balochistan, Balochistan Chief Secretary Babar Yaqoob Fateh Muhammad said that the provincial government plans to provide foolproof security to all candidates.
“The Balochistan government has decided to provide security to the aspiring candidates,” Yaqoob said, adding that once the final electoral list is issued, every candidate will be provided with four security guards and the election officers will also be given full protection.
Terming the meeting with the CEC a positive step, the PML-N’s Sanaullah Zehri said that if there are free and fair elections in Balochistan then the problems of the Baloch will be greatly reduced.
Speaking to the media after the meeting between the CEC and Baloch political leaders, ECP secretary Ishtiaq Ahmad said that political parties complained that they cannot file nomination papers on time because they don’t have access to the offices as they live in remote areas.
Responding to their concerns, he announced that the date of the submission of nomination papers has been extended for two days – to March 31.
Barozai meets Mengal
While the CEC was meeting Baloch leaders in Quetta, Balochistan’s caretaker Chief Minister Ghous Bakhsh Barozai was holding talks with BNP-M chief Akhtar Mengal in Karachi.
Mengal expressed his concerns about the law and order situation in the province while Barozai assured him that all measures will be taken to combat security threats.
“Political leaders will be provided all possible security,” Barozai said in an attempt to address Mengal’s reservations.
The interim CM said he was in contact with the political leadership of the province to ensure that the government works towards maintaining peace in the area and also tries to resolve Baloch grievances.
To this, Mengal replied: “Transparent polls are not possible without first addressing the reservations of people of Balochistan.”
“We have informed the ECP and the caretaker government about our issues,” Mengal said, adding that it is the commission’s responsibility to ensure a peaceful atmosphere during the elections.
The BNP-M chief insisted he was not contesting the election to reap the benefits of power, but to serve his people. “Ministries and parliament seats are temporary, we don’t value such things,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 29th, 2013.
In an effort to ensure smooth elections in Balochistan, Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan Justice (ret’d) Fakhruddin G Ebrahim made an impassioned plea to Baloch political leaders to take part in the upcoming general elections.
“Change does not come from the bullet but from the ballot box and by casting a vote,” the CEC said, in a direct appeal to Baloch nationalists.
CEC Ebrahim is currently touring Balochistan to review the law and order situation in the province and hear the grievances of disgruntled Baloch leaders.
He asked all political parties in the province to participate in the elections, saying that “the future of Pakistan is linked with free and fair polls.”
In 2008, most Baloch nationalist parties boycotted elections to protest the ongoing military operation and the killing of Nawab Akbar Bugti. This time, several nationalist parties are throwing their hats into the electoral ring.
During his visit, CEC Ebrahim met with the PML-N’s Sanaullah Zehri and Lashkari Raisani, JUI-F’s Maulana Abdul Wasey, National Party’s Abdul Khaliq Baloch and the Balochistan National Party-Awami’s Wahid Baloch, among other political leaders.
“Our motive to come here and meet the leaders of political parties is to understand the problems and difficulties they are facing,” the CEC said.
While noting the problems political parties have been facing in the wake of the elections, CEC Ebrahim assured them that the commission would resolve their problems.
Denying that there were any ‘no go’ areas in Balochistan, Balochistan Chief Secretary Babar Yaqoob Fateh Muhammad said that the provincial government plans to provide foolproof security to all candidates.
“The Balochistan government has decided to provide security to the aspiring candidates,” Yaqoob said, adding that once the final electoral list is issued, every candidate will be provided with four security guards and the election officers will also be given full protection.
Terming the meeting with the CEC a positive step, the PML-N’s Sanaullah Zehri said that if there are free and fair elections in Balochistan then the problems of the Baloch will be greatly reduced.
Speaking to the media after the meeting between the CEC and Baloch political leaders, ECP secretary Ishtiaq Ahmad said that political parties complained that they cannot file nomination papers on time because they don’t have access to the offices as they live in remote areas.
Responding to their concerns, he announced that the date of the submission of nomination papers has been extended for two days – to March 31.
Barozai meets Mengal
While the CEC was meeting Baloch leaders in Quetta, Balochistan’s caretaker Chief Minister Ghous Bakhsh Barozai was holding talks with BNP-M chief Akhtar Mengal in Karachi.
Mengal expressed his concerns about the law and order situation in the province while Barozai assured him that all measures will be taken to combat security threats.
“Political leaders will be provided all possible security,” Barozai said in an attempt to address Mengal’s reservations.
The interim CM said he was in contact with the political leadership of the province to ensure that the government works towards maintaining peace in the area and also tries to resolve Baloch grievances.
To this, Mengal replied: “Transparent polls are not possible without first addressing the reservations of people of Balochistan.”
“We have informed the ECP and the caretaker government about our issues,” Mengal said, adding that it is the commission’s responsibility to ensure a peaceful atmosphere during the elections.
The BNP-M chief insisted he was not contesting the election to reap the benefits of power, but to serve his people. “Ministries and parliament seats are temporary, we don’t value such things,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 29th, 2013.