The Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam—Fazl (JUI-F) has recently clinched two additional National Assembly seats from Balochistan after its candidates emerged victorious following a recount, bringing its total NA representation to 6.
Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri, the Secretary General of JUI-F, and Molvi Syed Samiullah secured victories in NA-261 and NA-251 respectively, as per the revised results. Initially, according to the Election Commission of Pakistan’s provisional results available until late Tuesday night, Sardar Akhtar Mengal of BNP-Mengal and Khushal Khan Kakar of Pashtoonkhwa National Party (PkNAP) were declared winners in NA-261 and NA-251.
In response to what they deemed as the “worst elections” in the nation’s history, two Balochistan political parties have announced plans to launch a protest movement against the alleged election irregularities.
Khushhal Khan Kakar, the Chairman of Pashtoonkhwa National Awami Party (PkNAP), and Nawabzada Shahzain Bugti, President of Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP), separately addressed press conferences on Tuesday, condemning the purported rigging and pledging peaceful protests.
Kakar vowed to expose those responsible for the alleged rigging and warned of closing highways leading from Quetta to Karachi, Dera Ismail Khan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Chaman, and other cities indefinitely if corrective action wasn’t taken within two days.
He urged leaders of Baloch, Pashtoon, and Hazara nationalist parties, including Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) Chairman Mehmood Khan Achakzai, to unite in the movement against the perceived electoral malpractices.
