Polling for 12 Balochistan senate seats underway
Staff Reporter :
Amid tight security, polling for 12 senate seats is underway in the Balochistan Assembly. The assembly hall declared as a polling station by the election commission of Pakistan.
Zamarak Khan Ackazai of the Awami National Party (ANP) cast the first vote as voting begins. The legislators are gradually coming to the house to cast their votes in support of their candidates.
“I used the vote as per my conscience”, Mr. Achakzai said. Nawabzada Tariq Magsi of the BAP and Haji Muhammad Khan Lehri also cast their votes.
All 65 legislators cast their votes so far
So far 65 legislators cast their votes for the election of members for the upper house. Chief Minister Balochistan, Jam Kamal Khan, Balochistan National Party (M) Chief Sardar Akhtar Mengal, former CM Nawab Aslam Raisani, former CM Nawab Sanaullah Zehri and others cast their votes.
65 legislators to elect 12 senators
In Balochistan, 65 members will elect 12 senators including 7 on general seats, 2 technocrats, 2 women, and 1 minority. The members of treasury and opposition benches spent a whole week in consultative meetings to pave the way for the success of their candidates.
Chief Minister Balochistan, Jam Kamal Khan finally succeeded in the withdrawal of Sitara Ayaz, Sardar Khan Rind, and Hazara Democratic Party (HDP) candidates from the race.
#Balochistan Senate….https://t.co/xpaE76LdeS #ANP’s #Zamarak Achakzai casts first vote pic.twitter.com/yXvpOswph2
— Quetta Voice (@VoiceQuetta) March 3, 2021
Ruling coalition enjoys a majority in the houseÂ
The ruling coalition comprising the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), Pakistan Tehrik e Insaf (PTI), Awami National Party (ANP), Balochistan National Party (Awami), and Hazara Democratic Party (HDP) has 41 seats in the house of 65.
The opposition political parties including the Jamiat ul Ulema e Islam (F), Balochistan National Party (Mengal), PKMAP have 22 seats in the house. Independent candidate Nawab Aslam Raisani has decided to support the opposition candidates in the senate election.
Nawab Zehri likely to back ruling coalition
However, Nawab Sanaullah Zehri elected on the ticket of former ruling party Pakistan Muslim League (N) is likely to support government candidates in the election. Nawab Zehri parted ways with former PM Nawaz Sharif after the Quetta public meeting of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM).
Both members of treasury and opposition benches have made tall claims about the success of their candidates.
The polling is underway for a total of 37 seats of the upper house throughout the country.
Polling for 12 Balochistan senate seats underway
