Balochistan to become first province with functional LG system since 2009

Election authorities all set to complete second phase of local government polls in province by January 2, 2015

ISLAMABAD: Election authorities are all set to complete the second phase of local government polls in Balochistan early next year (January 2) -- a step that would make Balochistan the first province to have a fully functional local government (LG) system since the last one expired in 2009.

Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday issued schedule for elections on the seats reserved for peasants and workers in the province.

According to the schedule issued by ECP, the members elected on general seats from each local council will elect members on seats reserved for peasants and workers on December 31.

Under Balochistan’s local government laws, five per cent quota of seats is reserved in every council for peasants and workers. Thirty-three per cent quota of reserved seats in the province is allocated for women and five per cent for minorities. The members on the reserved seats for women and minorities were elected on May 29 this year, almost six months after the elections on general seats.

Election on peasants and workers seats suffered a long delay when Balochistan assembly amended the laws earlier this year inculcating another category “professionals and social workers”. After the amendment, the five per cent quota for peasants and workers is shared by both peasants and workers and professionals and social workers.

The amendment was challenged in the court and Balochistan High Court (BHC) issued a stay order against the polls for these categories which were to be held on May 29. Elections for the rest of the reserved categories were held according to the schedule.

BHC earlier this month nullified the amended law and termed it against the constitution and removed the newly created category. After this decision, ECP has issued schedule of polls for peasants and workers seats.

Nominations papers for these polls will be issued from November 28 and intending candidates have been asked to submit these nominations by December 9, while the lists of final candidates will be issued on December 19. Elections on these seats will be held on December 31.

Results for these elections will be made public on January 2 next year.

Members elected on direct seats from each council constitute an electoral college and will elect members on reserved seats for their respective council.

LG polls in Balochistan were held on December 7 last year. However due to ligations regarding reserved seats the LG system has not started working in the province.

Once all members for all the categories are elected, they would take oath in their first session and elect their chairman and vice chairman. Once this process is completed, the local government system in Balochistan will become fully functional.

The local government system has been inactive in the country since the last one expired in 2009. The Supreme Court has been pressing the provinces hard ever since to hold LG polls since it is a constitutional requirement for every province.