Government-JUI Alliance Responsible for Quetta Election Delay, Says Amanullah Kanrani

**Quetta (Qudrat Daily):** Former President of the Supreme Court Bar Association, Senator (R) Amanullah Kanrani, criticized the provincial government and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) alliance for delaying local body elections in Quetta Metropolitan City and District, calling it “an excuse worse than the sin itself.”

In a statement, Kanrani said that political parties have historically participated in elections regardless of extreme weather conditions, citing the 1970 general elections held during severe snowfall and the 2018 election campaigns conducted during Ramadan. He argued that the delay is not due to weather, population, or constituency issues, but rather a lack of political will and fear of losing public support.

Kanrani emphasized that the parties delaying elections are unwilling to transfer powers to the local level, preferring centralized authority. He stated that such tactics undermine public trust in both provincial and national mandates. Highlighting global practices, Kanrani noted that in developed countries, local governments are granted administrative and financial authority, whereas in Pakistan, the system remains weak and constrained.

Kanrani urged that Article 140-A of the Constitution, which guarantees administrative and financial powers to local governments, should be fully implemented to strengthen democratic governance and ensure the empowerment of local bodies.