PB-21 Hub Election Office Fire Sparks Outrage; Democracy Under Threat — Strong Condemnation by Samina Mumtaz Zehri

Quetta (Qudrat Daily) — Chairperson of the Senate Standing Committee on Human Rights, Samina Mumtaz Zehri, strongly condemned the fire incident at the Returning Officer (RO) office in PB-21 Hub, where election materials and votes were destroyed. She described the incident as a direct attack on democratic values, the Constitution, the rule of law, and the public mandate.

Zehri stated that the fire in the large building, affecting only the office where election records were stored, could not have been a coincidence and suggests a planned conspiracy. She criticized the repeated suspension and transfer of election officials, deployment of preferred personnel, and security changes, which created a suspicious environment around the election process.

She demanded an immediate, high-level, and impartial investigation into the incident, urging the authorities, civil society, and courts to hold the responsible individuals accountable and ensure the protection of the public mandate. Zehri emphasized that the people of Hub are aware of their rights and will take all constitutional and legal measures to safeguard their votes. She added that the supremacy of the Constitution and law is essential for the stability of Pakistan and Balochistan, and the voice of truth and justice cannot be silenced.