QUETTA: The National Party has declared it will vigorously contest the upcoming local government elections in Quetta’s Chiltan Town (PB-44), positioning the vote as a battle to reclaim its political stronghold from “unrepresentative” figures imposed through disputed means.
The pledge was made during a major party meeting chaired by Balochistan President Aslam Baloch. The gathering, attended by a large number of workers and senior leaders, served to rally the party’s base. Baloch asserted that the constituency is a traditional stronghold of the National Party, claiming that their rightful representation was “snatched” and given to others through the controversial ‘Form 47’ following the general elections.
In a sharp critique of the current situation, Baloch linked the “imposed” leadership to a decline in the province’s fortunes. “After the imposition of unrepresented people, the law and order situation in Balochistan is very bad, the economy is ruined and corruption is on the rise,” he stated. He accused institutions of being “engaged in the business of collecting extortion” and described the province as a “boarding house for corrupt elements.”
This environment, he argued, is fueling public alienation from democratic politics and leading to a rise in violence. By committing to a robust campaign for the local elections, the National Party aims to prove it remains a “strong fortress” for political workers and begin reversing this trend, starting with what it considers its home ground.
While welcoming the Balochistan High Court’s order to conduct elections in Quetta, the party expressed deep concern about the credibility of the electoral process. Leaders pointed to past controversies, including what they described as the “auction” of elections through Form 47, which has created widespread skepticism about the democratic process among the public.
Despite these concerns, the National Party committed to full participation in the Quetta local government elections, characterizing it as part of their “long peaceful political struggle” to strengthen democratic norms and encourage public faith in the electoral system. The party’s leadership emphasized their commitment to using the electoral platform to advocate for stronger local governance institutions in Balochistan.
