Quetta Visit: Balochistan polls 90% fair, says Acting CEC

Election Commission had received only 10 complaints of rigging in elections from the province, says CEC

QUETTA:

Acting Chief Election Commissioner Justice Tasaduk Hussain Jilani has said elections in Balochistan were “90% free and fair”.

Talking to the media upon his arrival in Quetta from Islamabad on Wednesday, the acting CEC said that the Election Commission had received only 10 complaints of rigging in elections from the province.

“Judicial tribunals have been set up to address the complaints. The tribunals will conduct hearings daily to tackle the complaints within 120 days,” he said.

Jilani maintained the turnout in Balochistan was higher this time round compared to past elections in the province. He said all credit must go to the ECP for conducting ‘the most successful election in the history of Pakistan’ and fulfilling their constitutional responsibilities. He added that although the process was challenging, the ECP held elections successfully with the support of the army, security forces and the provincial and federal administration.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 30^th, 2013.