News
Friday, May 17, 2013
New Balochistan government to have a rough ride, fear analystsBy Kiyya Qadir Baloch
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League N is ready to form its new government in the most restive province, Balochistan, after party’s victory in May 11 parliamentary elections. But serious challenges await the new government in the province as nationalist parties like Balochistan National Party Mengal (BNP-M) and National Party (NP) are continuously threatening with strikes because of alleged rigging in their constituencies.
Balochistan National Party Mengal and National Party have warned that they would launch protest demonstration in the whole province if the rigging issue was not addressed in PB-3, 4,5,6, 50 and NA-260 within the next few days.
BNP-M chief Sardar Aktar Jan Mengal in a statement has said that his party believes in democracy and he has contested elections to show the world that they believe in the democratic process. Expressing his concerns over alleged rigging, he has threatened to ‘shut down’ Balochistan for an indefinite period unless his party’s grievances are addressed.
Analysts such as former editor of Daily Azadi, Siddique Baloch, believes that in addition to dealing with the prevailing law & order situation in the province, keeping away main stakeholders like Sardar Aktar Jan Mengal’s party out of provincial assembly will be a major worry for the new government because the situation will worsen with the rise in political temperature in the coming weeks.
It is worth mentioning here that BNP-M and NP had refused to take part in 2008 general elections under military ruler Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf .
Political analysts believe cornering Mengal’s BNP and not meeting the demands of Dr. Abdul Malik Baloch’s NP would be a futile practice in the province that would worsen the situation.
Balochistan National Party Mengal’s leaders are of the view that the tactics, which were used to hamper the way of Baloch representatives to assemblies reflected the anti-Baloch mindset of institutions and establishment.
They alleged that high levels of rigging were observed on PB-3, 4,5,6, NA 260 and demanded re-election on the said constituencies.
Meanwhile, NP president Dr. Abdul Malik Baloch has alleged that there has been record rigging and demanded that ECP investigate rigging allegations in PB-50.
Dr. Abdul Malik Baloch, President of National Party alleged that changes were made in the results of elections from PB-50 after the passage of 50 hours of the election where an unpopular candidate of PML-N was declared successful.
Though PML-N is very serious about Balochistan issue and has always been in favour of holding talks with Baloch militants to bring an end to the problems of the province that has killed thousands of people but people fear that cornering Aktar Mengal will be a major stumbling block in holding negotiations with the militants and separatists who rule the entire province.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk