BHC dismisses petition seeking delay in local bodies elections in Balochistan

QUETTA: A division bench comprising Chief Justice Balochistan High Court Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Justice Rozi Khan Barech dismissed the constitutional petitions filed for delay in the local bodies elections in Balochistan.

The court in its judgment said that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) was prepared to hold local government elections as per the announced schedule.

At present, there is no impediment in holding these elections as per the schedule announced on March 23, 2022, therefore the constitutional petitions filed for delay in the local body elections are excluded, the court remarked.

Earlier, despite the Balochistan government’s request to postpone local government (LG) elections, the ECP had started preparations for holding polls in the province.

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Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo has 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.

“We have strong reasons for postponing LG elections until July 15,” he told Mr Raja, adding that LG polls in Balochistan should be held in one phase.

The Balochistan Assembly has already passed a resolution seeking the postponement of LG elections for six months.

The Awami National Party has also filed a petition in the Balochistan High Court (BHC) for putting off LG elections in the province for six months.