QUETTA, Dec 8: Political parties have started contacting the independent candidates who won seats in different areas in local government elections in Balochistan to invite them to support their candidates for the posts of mayor of metropolitan and municipal corporations and chairmen of district councils and municipal committees.

According to unofficial results, independents have won over 600 seats in the party-based elections. The alliance of the National Party, PML-N and Pakhtunkhawa Milli Awami Party has secured over 450 seats.

The Provincial Election Commission will announce the official results on Dec 10.

The victory of independent candidates in such large numbers has surprised political observers who had predicted less space for independents in the party-based elections because all major national and provincial parties, which had performed well in the general elections, were also in the run.

Although a large number of independent candidates were affiliated with political parties, they contested under different panels. Most of the panels and alliances were formed by political and tribal elders.

Several other parties, including both factions of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, ANP, PML-Q, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and both factions of Balochistan National Party have also won seats.

It is believed that the PML-N, PkMAP and NP might launch separate efforts to get their own candidate elected as mayor of Quetta.