Balochistan parties review option of electoral alliance

QUETTA: Balochistan political parties have initiated contacts for electoral alliances and strategies ahead of the general elections.
The committees of various political parties in the province have co moved ahead and holding contacts and meetings. The National Party’s negotiating team has held meetings with Balochistan National Party-Mengal and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazal, sources said.
The parties have exchanged proposals with regard to electoral alliances and seat adjustments in the province in general election.
“The National Party intending to gather all component parties of PDM for a joint election strategy in Balochistan,” sources shared.
“The National Party has recently discussed seat adjustment proposals with BNP-Mengal in the election,” sources said.
Earlier, a team of the National Party had also held a meeting with the negotiating committee of the JUI-F, according to sources.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has asked the Election Commission to release the schedule of general elections in the country.
The HRCP said that the uncertainty surrounding the elections should end and new delimitations should not be used as an excuse to further delay the general polls.
In its statement, the HRCP added that there were reports of sectarian divisions being fueled to create an artificial political space for far-right political parties.
In a statement issued by HRCP, it was said that the caretaker government should also look into the public protests, take note of the issues due to which people were being mobilised.
The Election of Pakistan (ECP) has decided to shorten the timeframe for fresh delimitation of constituencies, announcing the exercise will now be concluded by November 30 this year. According to a press release issued here Friday, the ECP made this decision after feedback from different political groups as part of its ongoing consultations process on the roadmap for the next general elections. Chief Election Commissioner Sikander Sultan Raja, who chaired Friday’s meeting, averred that the ECP would ensure transparency of the delimitations exercise. –Agencies