Postponement of Local Elections Just Days Before Polling an Attack on Public Mandate: National Party

**Panjgur:** National Party senior leader and Deputy Parliamentary Leader in the Balochistan Assembly, Mir Rehmat Saleh Baloch, expressed deep concern over the postponement of local government elections. He described the last-minute suspension as undemocratic, suspicious, and an attack on the public mandate, undermining voters’ trust.

Mir Rehmat Saleh Baloch stated that if the elections could not be conducted, the decision should have been communicated well in advance to provide a clear message to candidates, political parties, and voters. Instead, the announcement came after candidates had submitted nominations, campaigned, and the Election Commission had completed preparations, making the delay appear malicious.

He criticized the reasons given for the postponement as weak and unacceptable and highlighted that certain parties staged public opposition while filing petitions in courts to halt the elections, revealing double standards and political interests.

The Deputy Parliamentary Leader also raised concerns about Quetta, which has been without local representation for years, suffering from issues related to sanitation, drinking water, sewage, health, education, and urban development. He emphasized that the National Party views local governments as the “nursery of democracy” and has always supported empowered local institutions.

Mir Rehmat Saleh Baloch affirmed that the party will continue its legal efforts to secure Quetta residents’ right to representation, warning that those fleeing responsibility from the public mandate will never be forgiven by history. The National Party vowed to ensure that the people of Quetta are not deprived of their local government rights.