National Party to Actively Contest Quetta Local Government Elections: Aslam Baloch Urges Workers to Prepare with Full Zeal

**Quetta (Qudrat Daily):**
The **National Party (NP)** has announced that it will **actively participate in the upcoming Quetta local government elections**, with **provincial president Aslam Baloch** urging party workers to begin full-scale preparations for the campaign.

A meeting of the **National Party Tehsil PB-45 and PB-46** was held under the chairmanship of **Aslam Baloch**, attended by **Central Information Secretary Ali Ahmed Baloch**, **District President Haji Atta Muhammad Bangulzai**, **Central Women Secretary Yasmeen Lehri**, **Central Social Media Secretary Saad Dehwar**, **Provincial Farmers Secretary Haji Farooq Shahwani**, **District General Secretary Riaz Zehri**, **Malik Idrees Shahwani**, **Chairman Aslam Jattak**, **Tehsil President Qayyum Sajan**, **District Labour Secretary Nasrullah Shahwani**, **Comrade Rehmatullah Parkani**, **Muhammad Azam**, and other leaders.

Addressing the gathering, party leaders said that **in Balochistan, new political leadership has always emerged through student politics and local government elections**. They noted that **in democratic nations around the world, local government systems are considered a foundation of democracy**, ensuring the **transfer of power to grassroots levels**. However, they regretted that in **Pakistan, local bodies have long been neglected** and kept institutionally weak by successive governments—both federal and provincial.

Highlighting the issue, the leaders said that although **local government elections were formally held in Balochistan in 2022**, the **provincial capital Quetta was excluded** and placed under the control of an **administrative officer**. They welcomed the **Balochistan High Court’s recent decision to order municipal elections in Quetta**, calling it a positive step toward restoring local representation.

However, they also expressed concerns over **past electoral malpractice**, such as the alleged manipulation of results through **Form 47**, which, they said, **turned elections into an “auction.”** This, they added, has led to widespread **public mistrust and apathy** toward the democratic process.

The leaders reaffirmed that as a **democratic and political party**, the **National Party** is committed to **reviving faith in democracy** and ensuring **public participation** in the upcoming Quetta local government elections. They vowed to pursue a **peaceful, long-term political struggle** to strengthen democratic institutions and local governance in the province.