QUETTA : The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam JUI (Ideological) has announced a boycott of the upcoming Quetta local body elections , citing severe hardships and an unfavorable environment for a fair electoral process.
The announcement was made by Provincial Convener Qari Mehrullah during a press conference at the Quetta Press Club on Sunday. He was flanked by other senior party leaders.
Mehrullah expressed strong concern over the current situation in the city, stating that basic life facilities like internet, mobile networks, and roads are severely disrupted. He highlighted that Section 144 is in effect, Frontier Corps (FC) checkpoints are deployed everywhere, and public transport is banned.
“Holding elections in these conditions is a fantasy,” Mehrullah stated. He pointed out that the extreme cold, with temperatures plummeting to minus 10 degrees Celsius, has caused many residents to migrate to warmer areas. He argued that conducting polls now would only benefit a select few parties and would not reflect the public’s true will.
The party’s decision came after a three-day meeting of its provincial leadership. Mehrullah proposed that the elections should be postponed for two to three months and held in May, June, or July when the weather and overall situation are expected to improve.
He also referenced the recent general elections held on February 8, stating that all parties have reservations about their results, which he said are “clear as day” in Form 47.
In response to questions, Mehrullah confirmed the boycott is in response to the court-ordered election schedule. He added that JUI-I will contact other political parties to build a consensus and appeal to the public to join the boycott.
Meanwhile a severe cold wave has tightened its grip on the northern and upper districts of Balochistan, with temperatures plunging below freezing and significantly disrupting daily life.
According to the Meteorological Department, the intense cold, driven by persistent cold winds, is expected to continue for the next 24 hours, with conditions likely to worsen further. The mercury dropped to minus 5 degrees Celsius in the upper areas of Ziarat and Quetta, creating the most severe conditions. In Quetta city, the minimum temperature was recorded at zero degrees Celsius, while Kalat experienced a low of minus 1 degree Celsius.
The frigid temperatures have affected normal life, with citizens facing severe difficulties, especially during the early morning and night. The cold wave has also extended to plain and coastal districts. Zhob recorded 5 degrees, Chaman 4 degrees, and Nokundi 8 degrees. In the coastal areas, Gwadar saw a low of 14 degrees and Jiwani 17 degrees. All these figures represent a significant drop compared to the previous week.
