Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti has formally requested the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to postpone the upcoming local government (LG) elections in Quetta, which are scheduled for December 28. The petition, submitted on Monday, underscores mounting concerns about the city’s security climate, communications blackout, and reduced voter presence during winter.
CM Cites Law and Order, Internet Suspension, and Winter Migration
According to informed officials, Bugti’s petition argues that the “precarious law and order situation” in Quetta makes it unsafe to hold polls at the end of December. The suspension of internet services, which has disrupted routine communication across the provincial capital, was also listed as a major obstacle to conducting free and fair elections.
The chief minister further stated that large-scale winter migration from Quetta has affected voter turnout potential, raising questions about the credibility and inclusiveness of the electoral process.
This is not the first attempt to delay the polls. Earlier, the Balochistan government had made a similar request, but the ECP rejected it.
ECP Had Completed All Preparations Following Court Orders
Despite the new petition, the ECP had already begun full-scale preparations to conduct the LG elections. Ballot papers are currently being printed, and arrangements have been made to hold elections across 172 union councils and 641 wards, with 2,710 candidates in the running.
The move to hold elections follows a Balochistan High Court (BHC) order issued on October 6, which dismissed petitions seeking postponement and directed the provincial election commissioner to proceed “as soon as possible.” In compliance, the ECP announced the election schedule on November 13.
Years of Delays Due to Legal and Political Deadlocks
Local government elections in most Balochistan districts were held three years ago and are set to complete their tenure in nine months. However, Quetta and Lasbela lagged behind due to prolonged disputes over delimitation.
The last local bodies completed their term on January 27, 2019, but elections were held only in May 2022, far beyond the 120-day limit mandated under the Elections Act 2017. The delay stemmed from disagreements over amendments to the Balochistan Local Government Act (BLGA) 2010 and complications linked to constituency boundaries.
While Lasbela finally held its LG elections in late 2022, Quetta remains the only major district yet to complete the process, largely due to ongoing litigation and procedural challenges.
CM Bugti’s latest petition places the responsibility on the ECP to decide whether polls will move forward as scheduled or be pushed further into 2024.
