A by-election of the Nationwide Meeting constituency NA-260 was just lately held in Balochistan. The polling happened on Saturday, fifteenth July, after the loss of life of Abdul Rahim Mandokhail (PkMAP) left the seat vacant.
Greater than a dozen candidates contested within the by-poll. Amongst them had been Bahadur Khan Mengal of Balochistan Nationwide Social gathering (BNP-M), Engineer Usman Badini of JamiatUlema-e Islam JUI (F), Jamal Tarakai of Pakhtunkhwa Mill Awami Social gathering (PkMAP), and Umair Muhammad Hassani of Pakistan Individuals’s Social gathering (PPP). However the true contest for NA-260 was between BNP-M and JUI (F).
The Jamiat Ulema-e Islam (JUI-F) received the Quetta-cum-Chagai by-elections, in line with unofficial outcomes. In a complete of 407 polling stations, the JUI-F candidate Mir Usman Badini secured 43,969 votes whereas BNP-M candidate Bahadur Khan Mengal got here in second, with 37,786 votes. Jamal Tarakai from Pakhtunkhwa Mili Awami Social gathering (PkMAP) obtained the third highest, 20,179 votes.
NA-260 is likely one of the most ethnically numerous constituencies. It contains Chagai, Nushki, and one third of Quetta district, stretching from Kuchlak to Taftan. Within the by-election, it was given undue significance and performed the function of a heat up match amongst political events en route the final election subsequent yr.
It was an amazing let-down that the by-electionof NA-260 Balochistan didn’t obtain satisfactory media protection. Whereas a troublesome competitors happened within the constituency, mainstream media slept like a log. Our media will go to United States of America to cowl an election, however not a hyped by-election in Balochistan.
BNP-Mengal had been thought of favourite on this by-election and got here out as a robust opposition and widespread get together within the province. The publichas pinned its hopes on BNP-Mengal’s management on account of its clear-cut policiesabout their points.
The Awami Nationwide Social gathering (ANP), Hazara Democratic Social gathering, BNP (Awami) and Dr Abdul Hayee Baloch’s get together (BNM) supported BNP-Mengal within the NA-260 by-poll. In one in all his tweets,famousjournalist Hamid Mir says, “Vote for ideology not for race and language. Good to know that ANP, BNP, and Hazara Democratic Social gathering supporting one candidate”.
As a substitute of appointing their very own candidate, BNP’s arch rival, Nationwide Social gathering (NP), supported JUI-F. This unnatural alliance with JUI (F) within the by-elections made the individuals query the motives of Nationwide Social gathering.
JUI-F, a proper wing political get together, can’t facet with the slogans which have been raised by NP’s leaders for many years. Within the Nineteen Seventies period, the current leaders of Nationwide Social gathering had been part of communist politics and mullahism was removed from their political manifesto. It has been nearly 14 years since they shaped a brand new get together (Nationwide Social gathering), underneath which they’ve been campaigning within the identify of leftist politics. This shocking alliance with a proper wing get together appears fishy.
Many individuals, inside and with out the get together, aren’t pleased with the double normal inits politics. The ideological employees of Nationwide Social gathering are upset within the resolution taken by its management with out taking them into confidence. They consider that this resolution about its alliance with JUI will politically take Nationwide Social gathering nowhere. It seemsthey aretaking an axe atthemselves.
In the meantime,the employees of NP, like dumb-driven cattle, are blindly following each misstep of their leaders. It’s deemed political suicide of NP and the final nail inits coffin. The already declined recognition of Nationwide Social gathering on account of nepotism and corruptionhas worsened after supporting a proper wing spiritual get together.
JUI and Ahl-e Sunnat are believed to be selling related ideologies of Lashkar-e-Jhangvi that purpose to suppress the minority teams within the province. Lashkar-e-Jhangvi has been concerned within the mass killings of Hazara neighborhood and the Police Coaching Academy in Quetta final yr. Within the early Nineteen Nineties, JUI’s arduous core Mullahs straight focused a minority, Zikri neighborhood based mostly in Turbat. At behests of JUI, a whole bunch of individuals from Zikri neighborhood had been tortured and killed, and nonetheless they’re weak by the hands of non secular fanatics who’re stated to be backed by JUI.
It was additionally noticed that JUI’s candidate and his employees used spiritual playing cards to sway individuals for votes in the course of the pre-poll marketing campaign. They allegedly used mosques and loudspeakers to beg votes within the identify of faith whereas posters of the JUI candidate had been seen on high of the minarets. The Ex-Senator Sana Baloch of Balochistan Nationwide Social gathering (Mengal) says, “Cash and mosque issue was the most important hurdle within the NA-260 by- ballot. Election fee of Pakistan should take discover and implement its writ to discourage such voter corruption practices “.
BNP-M President Sardar Akhtar Mengal has accused the federal government and FC personnel of stopping voters of his get together from casting votes. He alleged that in BNP-M stronghold of Sariyab Street, individuals had been restrained from their votes by FCpersonnel.
Akhtar Mengal stated that BNP-Mengal is a political, democratic get together and doesn’t consider in non-democratic techniques. He added that if it had been determined to get the federal government supported candidate elected, therewas no want of getting individuals to face in scorching warmth to forged their votes.
Public mandates have not often been given any respect within the province. To elect a consultant on the federal government’s selection as a substitute of respecting the general public’s votes, will smash the belief individuals on a so-called democratic course of. Within the case of Balochistan, elections are all the time predominated by the federal government. If this continues so, it might stymie the general public’s curiosity to take part within the election.
Free, truthful and clear electionsare the one answer to the lengthy lasting issues of the province, because it offers room to the real representatives of individuals.
