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The Election Commission of Pakistan building in Islamabad. Photo: Radio Pakistan
ISLAMABAD:
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday rejected Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti’s plea to postpone the local government (LG) elections in Quetta and confirmed that polling will take place on December 28 as per the schedule issued on November 3.
In its written order, the commission reaffirmed that the Quetta local elections will proceed as planned, noting that printing of ballot papers is already underway.
The order directed the Balochistan government and security agencies to extend full cooperation and ensure foolproof arrangements to ensure voters, candidates, polling staff and the public for smooth conduct of the polls.
On a dissenting note, Election Commission member Shah Muhammad Jatoi agreed with the majority on technical objections but warned that Quetta’s harsh winter and resident migration could dampen voter turnout.
He highlighted additional security concerns in parts of Balochistan and recommended postponing the polls until conditions improve.
The chief minister, in an appeal, urged the commission to change or suspend the election schedule, citing severe weather, security concerns, administrative preparedness and problems with constituency boundaries and voter lists. The commission had earlier rejected similar pleas by the chief minister on November 3 and the governor of Balochistan on November 26.
