National Party Files Counter-Petition in Balochistan High Court Against Delay in Quetta Local Government Elections

Quetta:National Party Balochistan President Aslam Baloch, along with party MPA Ghulam Niaz Baloch, heads of the National Party Lawyers Forum Advocate Rahib Baloch, Advocate Changez Haider Baloch, Barrister Jaleel Lango, and a large number of central and provincial party leaders, filed a counter-petition in the Balochistan High Court against petitions submitted by ruling parties seeking postponement of local government elections in Quetta.

The purpose of the counter-petition is to ensure the holding of free, fair, and transparent local government elections on December 28 in accordance with the Election Commission’s announced schedule.

Speaking to the media on this occasion, Aslam Baloch said that the ruling parties have been completely rejected by the public, and no one is willing to contest elections on their tickets. He stated that around 2,000 candidates have submitted nomination papers, out of which only 122 belong to ruling parties, proving that they have already suffered a moral defeat. He alleged that the ruling parties fear public backlash if election results are manipulated, as seen in the 2024 general elections, and are therefore looking for an escape route by delaying the local polls.

Aslam Baloch further alleged that massive corruption worth billions of rupees has continued over the past seven years through administrators. He claimed that municipal cleaning work in Quetta, previously carried out for Rs150 million, is now being done through a favored contractor at a cost of Rs15 billion, with all municipal staff, manpower, and machinery placed at the contractor’s disposal. He also alleged that traders and shopkeepers across Quetta are being forced to pay monthly fees ranging from Rs500 to Rs1,000 to the same contractor. According to him, the attempt to delay elections through the courts is aimed at prolonging this corrupt system, involving everyone from contractors to the imposed government.

On the occasion, Provincial Assembly member Kulsoom Niaz Baloch said that all electoral stages have been completed and postponing elections at this point would be a grave injustice to the people of Quetta. She added that more than 103 councillors have already been elected unopposed.

Advocate Rahib Baloch said that the Balochistan High Court itself has previously ruled in favor of holding local government elections in Quetta at the earliest. With only one week left before polling day, he expressed hope that the court would decide the matter on merit and prevent the government and ruling parties from avoiding the democratic process.