Tag: Balochistan

Notably, women are actively participating in the protest, underscoring the widespread discontent among the people….reports Asian Lite News

Widespread protests persisted against alleged poll rigging in Quetta and other regions of Balochistan, marking a significant escalation in unrest, a media report said.

The four-party alliance comprising Baloch, Pashtun and Hazara nationalist parties has been on a sit-in outside the deputy commissioner’s office in Quetta, denouncing the purported election irregularities, The Express Tribune reported.

“We refuse to relent until our demands are addressed,” declared Haji Atta Muhammad Bangulzai, a prominent leader of the National Party (NP), who claims victory in a provincial Assembly seat from the Sariab Road Quetta constituency.

Notably, women are actively participating in the protest, underscoring the widespread discontent among the people.

The alliance, consisting of Balochistan National Party (Mengal), Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP), National Party (NP), and Hazara Democratic Party (HDP), has issued ultimatums to the Election Commission of Pakistan and returning officers across the province, warning of intensified protests if their demands are not met, The Express Tribune reported.

The protests, going on since February 9, have brought Balochistan to a virtual standstill, as major highways remain blocked, underscoring the deep-seated frustration and discontent among the populace regarding the integrity of the electoral process, the report said.

On February 15, at least two persons were killed and around a dozen were injured during an exchange of fire between two rival political groups in the Hub city of Balochistan, as the police failed to bring the situation under control.

ALSO READ: Tragic Death Exposes Safety Crisis in Balochistan

The IHC in a previous hearing had given a February 13 deadline to the federal government for recovery of the missing Baloch students….reports Asian Lite News

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has summoned the Caretaker Prime Minister of Pakistan on Monday in the missing Baloch students’ case, a media reports said.

Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani said during a hearing that those found involved in enforced disappearances should be awarded double death penalty, ARY News reported.

“Caretaker Prime Minister Anwar ul Haq Kakar should appear in person before the court on Monday and explain to the bench why a case should not be registered against him,” Justice Kayani said.

On the plea of the Assistant Attorney General (AAG) seeking adjournment of the hearing, Justice Kayani said, “I am showing leniency that both DGs are not being summoned.”

AAG Usman Ghumman earlier told the court one of the 12 missing students has also been foind. He said the Attorney General was not available on Tuesday, seeking adjournment of the case, ARY News reported.

The court, however, rejected the state lawyer’s request.

The IHC in a previous hearing had given a February 13 deadline to the federal government for recovery of the missing Baloch students.

The court in a written order had also summoned the final report of all Baloch missing persons regarding their reaching their homes, ARY News reported.

“The court is not demanding statements on oath from the Prime Minister, Interior or Defence Secretaries and security institutions for now. If the missing persons are not recovered, statements on oath will be demanded and legal proceedings will be initiated,” the court order read.

The Attorney General submitted a list of Baloch students missing in enforced disappearances. The court was informed that 12 missing Baloch students’ cases have been unresolved, ARY News reported.

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Against the backdrop of armed conflict, a sizable segment of Balochistan’s population voiced a vehement rejection of the electoral process through demonstrations and boycotts….reports Asian Lite News

At a time when general elections in Pakistan remained a burning issue globally, at-home politics portrayed a totally different picture, with protests and boycotts across the nations, especially Balochistan.

Against the backdrop of armed conflict, a sizable segment of Balochistan’s population voiced a vehement rejection of the electoral process through demonstrations and boycotts.

Quite recently, a major protest took place in Heronk, a district of Kech in Balochistan, where women gathered in front of a polling booth, vocalising their disagreement with placards linking election participation with terrorism, reflecting a larger mood of hostility towards the political process in Balochistan. The situation worsened when security officers allegedly used force to remove the demonstrators, showing tensions between the local population and government.

Similarly, dramatic scenes unfolded in Goburd, Mand, when Baloch women and children screamed “Yeh Wardi Wale, Deshatgard” (These Uniformed Ones, Terrorists) in front of Pakistani military trucks. Following that, the electoral process was halted in the region.

Dramatic scenes in Goburd, Mand today as Baloch women and children chant “Yeh Wardi Wale, Deshatgard”, right in front of Pakistani military vehicles. The Pakistani military personnel make victory signs at the end of the video. Election process has been discontinued in the area. pic.twitter.com/x5Fl0TGO7K

— The Balochistan Post – English (@TBPEnglish) February 8, 2024

This outpouring of discontent was echoed in other districts, including Kech, Gwadar, and Kharan, where local demonstrators disrupted the polling process.

Polling sites in Tehsil Mand in Kech district and Tehsil Hoshab remained vacant, with no polling officials or voters present, echoing strong demands by nationalist organisations to boycott the polls. A relatively low participation was seen in Baloch-majority parts of Balochistan, reported The Balochistan Post.

At least nine people lost their lives, and over a dozen sustained injuries in a series of violent incidents on Thursday, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Dera Ismail Khan district and multiple districts of Balochistan, as per Dawn.

In Dera Ismail Khan, five police personnel were martyred, and two others were injured as an improvised explosive device (IED) detonated within the jurisdiction of Kulachi police station. According to Dawn, the incident occurred while a police vehicle was patrolling the Gara Aslam area of Kulachi for election security. Militants ambushed the vehicle, resulting in casualties.

Furthermore, polling stations in Gwadar, Kech, and Panjgur districts of Balochistan faced grenade and rocket attacks, claiming the lives of five police officers in the D.I. Khan blast. Additionally, the toll rose to 30 in Khanozai and Qila Saifullah due to bomb explosions.

In a statement, Balochistan Minister for Information Jan Achakzai confirmed the death toll and noted that the Islamic State (Wilayah Pakistan) claimed responsibility for targeting the election office of an independent candidate in Khanozai as reported by Dawn.

Meanwhile, amid the violence, polling in central, southern, and northern districts proceeded peacefully with tightened security measures.

The incidents underscore the challenges faced during the election process in certain regions, emphasizing the need for heightened security measures and vigilance to ensure the safety of citizens and electoral processes. (ANI)

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The targeted attacks highlight the delicate security situation prevailing in certain regions of Balochistan, particularly in the lead-up to the February 8 elections….reports Asian Lite News

Two separate blasts shook the districts of Kech and Panjgur in Balochistan on Tuesday, sparking concerns about security as Pakistan gears up for the upcoming general elections scheduled on February 8, a media report said.

In the Hoshop area of Kech district, unidentified armed assailants lobbed a grenade targeting the NADRA office, Express Tribune reported.

The hand-grenade was detonated within the NADRA office premises, resulting in a significant explosion. However, specific details regarding the extent of damages are yet to be disclosed, sources told The Express Tribune.

In another incident in the Surdu area of Panjgur, a bomb blast occurred at the residence of Abdul Qadeer Sajdi, a prominent figure associated with the National Party.

Reports indicate that the attack coincided with a crucial meeting concerning the upcoming general elections, infusing a political dimension into the incident, Express Tribune reported.

These targeted attacks highlight the delicate security situation prevailing in certain regions of Balochistan, particularly in the lead-up to the February 8 elections.

Authorities are anticipated to enhance security measures to safeguard candidates, political gatherings, and electoral processes.

Recently, Balochistan has witnessed a sharp rise in the number of low-scale bomb explosions targeting election campaign offices and candidates across the province, Express Tribune reported.

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The intermittent network outages have posed challenges for independent candidates, like lawyer Jibran Nasir in Karachi, who heavily rely on social media for outreach due to budget constraints….reports Asian Lite News

Balochistan, amidst rising security concerns due to a surge in terrorist attacks, has decided to limit internet services in sensitive polling stations leading up to the February 8 elections, as reported by Pakistan-based newspaper News International

Jan Achakzai, the caretaker information minister, declared the decision, citing the potential threat of terrorist activities during the polling process.

Taking to X, Jan Achakzair stated that there was a risk that the terrorists might use social media platforms as a means of communication for their nefarious plans.

“Ensuring the safety and security of ordinary citizens is of utmost importance, as there is a concern that terrorists may exploit social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and other similar channels for communication purposes,” he wrote in an X post.

He further stated that internet access will be restricted in the lead-up to the elections in regions including Turbat, Mach, and Chaman, the latest areas to witness a terrorist attack in the province.

The move, aimed at safeguarding citizens, comes amid a challenging security landscape, particularly with an escalation in attacks targeting political parties and their campaign gatherings, as per The News International

However, the intermittent network outages have posed challenges for independent candidates, like lawyer Jibran Nasir in Karachi, who heavily rely on social media for outreach due to budget constraints.

According to The News International, Jibran Nasir, expressing concerns over the government’s actions, deems the shutdowns as setting a “dangerous precedent” and violating constitutional rights, particularly freedom of expression.

With less than a week until the polls, security measures have intensified nationwide to ensure a conducive environment for the electoral process.

Despite the security measures, Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja has assured the public of an uninterrupted polling day experience, ruling out the possibility of communication and internet service disruptions.

However, the situation differs in Sindh, where caretaker Information Minister Ahmed Shah stated that no decision has been made regarding the suspension of internet and communication services on February 8.

Earlier, the provincial government in Balochistan on Sunday imposed restrictions on public meetings and electoral gatherings, citing security threats, local media reported.

Balochistan Information Minister Jan Achakzai took to social media platform X to announce the ban and elaborated that the step has been taken in “response to a terror alert”, indicating the presence of a suspected female suicide bomber in Quetta, The Express Tribune reported.

Achakzai emphasised the necessity of imposing restrictions on public gatherings and electoral meetings. He urged all political parties and candidates to conduct their meetings indoors.

ALSO READ: Blast reported outside Election Commission office in Balochistan