QUETTA: Balochistan government is set to hold local government elections in 32 districts of the province, except Quetta and Lasbella, on Sunday (today).
The local government elections are being held under the Balochistan Local Government Act 2010. The provinicial government made strict security arrangements for the polls.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has declared over 2,000 polling stations sensitive. A total of 17,774 candidates are contesting the LG elections.
A total of 5,236 polling stations have been established across 32 districts. For general seats, currently 132 women candidates are also contesting in the province. The number of male registered voters across Balochistan is 2,043,428, whereas the number of female voters is 1,570,896.
The polls are being held in all districts except Quetta and Lasbella districts and some areas of Zhob and Pishin districts. The ECP had delayed the elections in these areas because of flaws in the delimitations and delays in the formation of wards for councilors.
Chief Minister Balochistan Mir Quddus Bizenjo ordered the release of Rs600 million to meet the expenses of the elections including logistics expenditures of the election staff and law enforcement agencies.
It is pertinent to mention that elections were due in May 2019, but could not be held as the then provincial government had taken a court stay order and appointed administrators to run local bodies.
