Balochistan

Local govt in Balochistan: PkMAP’s Kaleemullah elected as mayor of Quetta

Kaleemullah bagged 54 votes against a total of 84 voted, according to unofficial results

Shezad Baloch January 28, 2015

Members of the Union Council Tehsil Daubandi District Killa Abdullah taking their oath for the local bodies system. PHOTO: INP

QUETTA: Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party’s (PkMAP) Kaleemullah Kakar, a candidate for the Waten Dost Panel -- an alliance between PkMAP, National Party (NP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) -- was elected as the mayor of Quetta on Wednesday as the local government inched closer to reality in Balochistan.

According to unofficial results, the 78-year-old doctor Kaleemullah bagged 54 votes against a total of 84 votes cast during the election.

The All Party Democratic Alliance’s (APDA) Abdul Qahir Achakzai obtained only 14 votes, while Insaaf Panal’s Khuda Baksh secured four votes.

PML-N councilor and former Nazim of Quetta, Abdul Raheem Kakar, boycotted the election while the Supreme Court restrained one of the councilors from using his vote.

PML-N managed to grab the deputy mayor position after reaching an agreement with its provincial government partner PkMAP.

Younus Baloch of PML-N clinched 56 votes against the total 84 votes. APDA’s Raza Wakeel from HDP stood in second place with 13 votes, while Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf’s (PYI) Munwara Bibi secured four votes.

Kakar told The Express Tribune that his first priority will be to improve the law and order situation and infrastructure in Quetta.

“It is a huge burden, but I am prepared to take it as a challenge,” Kakar said.

Kakar was born in Pishin district in 1937 and heads Kaleemullah Health Foundation in Quetta, a hospital which consists of 30 beds. Recently, the chief minister contributed Rs10 million to the Kaleemullah Health Foundation from the public exchequer.

APDA’s Naeem Bazai, from ANP, was elected as chairman of District Council Quetta, while PkMAP’s Asmatullah Bazai was elected as the deputy chairman.

In Turbat, Feda Dashti of the ruling National Party (NP) was elected as chairman of Turbat Municipal Corporation and Mohammed Naseem was elected as Vice Chairman.

In Lasbela District Council, Ghulam Akbar Lasi was elected as chairman and Qadir Baksh Jamot was elected as vice chairman – both candidates are from Jam panel and are backed by the PML-N.