Balochistan assembly passes resolution to postpone local bodies elections
Balochistan assembly passes resolution to postpone local bodies elections
Our Reporter
BalochistanLatest

QUETTA: Treasury and opposition benches through adopting a joint resolution demanded on Monday late evening postponement of upcoming local bodies’ elections in the province for introducing reforms in the existing local bodies’ act and some other reasons.

QUETTA: Treasury and opposition benches through adopting a joint resolution demanded on Monday late evening postponement of upcoming local bodies’ elections in the province for introducing reforms in the existing local bodies’ act and some other reasons.

The Joint Resolution has moved by Minister for Higher Education and Information, Mir Zahoor Ahmed Buledi in the house on behalf of all movers, which was presided over by Speaker Mir Abdul Qudoos Bezenjo. Resolution said that in view of 2017 census, continuous drought persisting since last nine years, introducing new reforms in the existing Local Bodies’ Act and new delimitation, local bodies election should be postpone for an indefinite period.

Resolution further added that delimitation for local bodies’ have been started which take time and provincial government also working on the reforms so the new reforms should be prepared with consensus.

The Balochistan Government had requested the Election Commission of Pakistan for extending the date for holding local bodies’ election in the province. However, the Election Commission has rejected the plea of the Balochistan government and announced to hold election in time.

Speaking on the resolution, Mr. Buledi said that local bodies’ institutions have completed its four years term and during these four years census also conducted in the country that shows the population of Balochistan increased up to 13 million. He said that after new census, conducting of delimitations of the national and provincials assemblies is constitutional obligation. He said that Balochistan Government had informed the Election Commission of Pakistan that the time is not enough for completing all these obligations and local bodies’ elections could not be held in the limited time.

The Minister said that the government further pleaded in the commission that Balochistan government also wanted to upgrade the local bodies’ institutions.”Holding local bodies elections on the bases of old delimitations would be injustice with the People of Balochistan,” Mr. Buledi said, adding that some of the local bodies’ constituencies in Quetta have over one lac population, which needs proper delimitations.

He said that there is need to give more powers to the local bodies’ institutions and changes in the 2010 local bodies’ act.
Sana Baloch of Balochistan National Party (BNP-Mengal) while speaking on the resolution said that according to constitution ever federating unit has the right to establish local bodies, institutions and it has constitutional powers to made local bodies’ act.

He said that holding election is responsibility of the election commission while legislation is right of the provincial governments. He said that Prime Minister Imran Khan had announced after forming his government to bring new local bodies’ system in the country and had formed task force for removing the flows of the existing system and new system should be introduce in the country to made local bodies’ more effective.

He said that unfortunately in Balochistan local bodies’ institutions could not deliver due to not having a better local bodies’ act. He demanded that local bodies’ election in Balochistan should be conducted after completing new delimitations in view of population of the Province.

Parliamentary leader of National Party, Muhammad Asghar Khan Achakzai supported the resolution and said that local bodies’ elections should be postponed for some time. He said that election election wanted to hold local bodies elections in May this year while in May Ramadan will start.

He said that delimitation has also not completed so far and after delimitation, people will approach court of law. He said that long drought also affecting the people and in this situation more time should be given to Balochistan  for holding new local bodies elections in the province.

However, Nasarullah Zerey of PkMAP has opposed the resolution saying that why the provincial government has not started work on preparing new reforms after forming government in August last year. He said that government without wasting time hold local bodies’ election in time.