QUETTA: The first phase of local government elections in Balochistan has remained controversy-free and ord­erly despite sporadic illegalities and irregularities, the Free and Fair Election Network (Fafen) said in a pre­liminary report released on Friday.

Fafen noted that all major political parties the results of the May 29 polls, which “augurs well for democracy and development in the province where the integrity of electoral exercises has previously been questioned”.

Hamidullah Kakar, the network’s focal person for Pakistan, told reporters at a press conference that despite sporadic illegalities and irregularities, the elections remained largely peaceful, orderly and better-managed.

However, some major areas that need to be stringently enforced included campaigning and canvassing around polling stations, depriving polling agents of copies of result forms, inconsistent compliance with the legal provision to permit voters present inside the polling station after 5pm to cast their vote and issues of secrecy of voters.

Published in Dawn, June 4th, 2022