QUETTA: With only two days left in the general elections, negotiations between different political and nationalist parties are continuing for seat adjustments and alliances in Quetta and other parts of the province.

Because of security reasons, major public meetings of any political, nationalist party could not be held in Quetta and other towns and cities of Balochistan. After the suicide bombing at the election gathering of Nawabzada Siraj Raisani in Mastung last week, all mainstream and regional political parties cancelled their scheduled public meetings in the provincial capital.

Political parties and candidates have now restricted themselves to small indoor meetings and door-to-door campaigns.

Public meetings cancelled for fear of attacks

Leaders of all mainstream and regional and nationalist parties are now holding talks with different political parties, including their arch rivals, for seat adjustment or electoral alliances to ensure success of their candidates in the upcoming elections.

“Political parties which claim themselves to be progressive, enlightened and against religious extremist parties, have now made electoral alliances or seat adjustments for National Assembly and provincial assembles’ seats with these extremist elements or parties and groups in some constituencies of Balochistan.

Balochistan National Party (BNP-Mengal group) was the first which formed an election alliance with its arch rival Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl in Khuzdar and after signing an agreement, leaders of the two parties organised joint public meetings and carried out joint door-to-door campaigns.

Baloch and Pakhtun nationalist parties and religious parties, which had strongly reacted to the establishment of a new political party, the Balochistan Awami Party, have also made seat adjustments and are contesting election jointly on some seats of national and provincial assemblies.

Published in Dawn, July 24th, 2018