QUETTA: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday met leaders of Baloch nationalist parties in Quetta to convince them for participation in the upcoming general elections, DawnNews reported

Chief Election Commissioner Fakhruddin G Ebrahim is on a visit to Balochistan to review law and order situation amid threats by insurgents and militant organisations.

Earlier in a meeting, Fakhruddin G Ebrahim briefed the Interior Secretary, Inspector General (IG) and Frontier Corps personnel over the maintenance of law and order in the province during the upcoming general elections.

He also ordered for better arrangements to conduct polls in Dera Bhugti and Kohlu.

On Wednesday night, Chief Election Commissioner Fakhruddin G Ebrahim said that the ECP will work towards persuading political parties in Balochistan to participate in the upcoming elections.

Ebrahim said that he was afraid that some people would boycott the elections but that has not happened.

He said that he will try and persuade those who are feeling alienated, adding that he wants to “put at ease political parties in the province”.

The election commissioner also said that he wants to “put at ease political parties in the province”. He further said that the ECP will ensure that the elections were conducted in a secure environment.

On the topic of delimitation, the CEC said, “So far we have not received any application regarding delimitation in Balochistan. Meanwhile, there have been some changes in Karachi.”

Ebrahim also said that peace and security was not just an issue for Balochistan, but also for the rest of the country.