Balochistan’s LG Saga

Kuda-e-Daad, 27, a father of two, is running for a councilor’s seat at Union Council (UC) Lashari in Sohbatpur District of Balochistan in the upcoming local governments (LG) polls scheduled for May 29.

Daad works as a driver in a private company in Quetta and earns Rs15,000 per month. He holds an undergraduate degree but has failed so far to get a decent job.

“When I apply for a post in any government department, officials demand bribes ranging from Rs0.5 million to Rs1 million. If I had that much money, I would start a business rather than looking for a job,” Daad said, laughing.

“I have been spending thousands of rupees for getting employment in some government department but have failed so far even after clearing the requisite tests,” he added.

Daad said he decided to take part in the upcoming LG polls on the insistence of his family. Actually, his relatives and neighbours submitted his nomination papers for the slot. “They believe that I am educated and will work for our people and resolve their problems after being elected as a counselor,” he said.

“I want to work for my people as I have to make the roof of our community hall. We have already built its four walls. Another big problem is the lack of roads and bridges in our UC. I need to work to serve my people and resolve these issues.”

However, Abdul Sami, a resident of Chaman district, said he did not expect much from the LG elections.

“The reason is that powers have not been devolved to the LGs. These LGs don’t have funds to address issues of the community. I think under the current circumstances the LG elections are a burden on the public exchequer. The LGs are of no use until powers and funds are transferred to them,” he said.

But Haji Abdul Qadir Baloch, a resident of Nushki district, found it encouraging that the young generation is taking great interest in the LG elections.  “It is the job of the LG representatives to ensure that development schemes are completed and other issues in their areas are resolved,” he added.

The LG elections will be held in all districts of Balochistan – except Quetta, Lasbela and some areas of Pishin – on May 29 and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has started the process.

According to a statement issued by Balochistan Election Commissioner Fayyaz Hussain Murad on March 29, the candidates could submit their nomination papers to the concerned returning officers (ROs) till April 21 while the lists of nominees were to be released on April 22. “Nomination papers will be scrutinized from April 23 to April 25. From April 26 to April 28, objections can be lodged against the decisions of the ROs. From April 29 to May 6, the ROs will decide on appeals.

“Revised lists of candidates will be posted on May 7. Candidates will be able to withdraw till May 9. Election symbols will be given to candidates on May 10 and polling will be held on May 29 in all districts of Balochistan except Quetta and Lasbela,” the statement said.

Referring to a High Court Balochistan (BHC) order, the ECP said the municipal committee of Pishin had to update the electoral rolls of 19 blocks of Huramzai which would be completed by the end of July. “Therefore, the ECP has postponed the LG elections at the municipal committee [of] Huramzai,” it said.

In Balochistan, there are 838 UCs; 5,345 rural wards and 914 urban/rural wards. There are 7 municipal corporations and 49 municipal committees in 32 districts of Balochistan. The number of ROs to oversee the LG polls is 187 while the number of assistant returning officers is 339, it said.

Earlier, Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Abdul Quddus Bizenjo had said his government was fully prepared to hold LG elections as scheduled by the ECP. “All institutions concerned have been given the task of holding the LG elections in a peaceful and transparent manner,” the CM said in a statement.

Bizenjo said due to the preparation of the budget for the next financial year and some other reasons, the provincial government had earlier wanted the LG elections to be postponed for some time.

“The government will fulfill its responsibility to hold the elections as per the ECP schedule,” he said

The CM said his government would provide all resources for the LG elections “because the LGs are the nursery of democracy and the basis for devolution. The LGs would resolve the problems of the people at the grassroots level.”

The chief minister expressed hope that all political parties would fully participate in the LG elections.

Last week on April 13, a division bench of the BHC – comprising Chief Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Justice Rozi Khan Barrech – dismissed constitutional petitions – filed by the Awami National Party (ANP) – seeking delay in the LG elections in Balochistan.

The court in its judgment said the ECP is ready to hold the LG elections as per the announced schedule. “At present, there is no impediment in holding these elections as per the schedule announced on May 29. Therefore the constitutional petitions filed for delay in the LG elections are excluded.”

Earlier on April 8, the Balochistan Assembly passed a resolution seeking postponement of LG elections for six months. The Balochistan government on April 11 also requested the ECP to postpone the LG polls and LG secretary Imran Gichki had written a letter to the ECP asking it to conduct the polls after July 15.

On April 11, CM Bizenjo also met Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja in Islamabad and shared with him his government’s point of view on holding LG elections in the province.

However, the ECP started preparations for holding polls in the province and directed district authorities to start receiving nomination papers from April 15 to 18. The last date to submit the nomination papers was later extended till April 21.