QUETTA, Oct 11: The Muttahida Majlis Amal (MMA), has emerged a dominating political force and strong parliamentary group in Balochistan after bagging maximum number of seats in Thursday polls.

Many tribal and political figures who have been dominating the electoral scene of the province for years, have failed to capture a place this time. They include: Mehmood Khan Achakzai, chairman PMAP; Sardar Fateh Mohammad Hasni of PPP; Syed Faal Agha, former governor, Mian Saifullah Khan Piracha of PPP, Habib Jalib Baloch, secretary-general of the Balochistan National Party; Bizen Bizenjo, Dr Abdul Hayee Baloch, chairman of the Balochistan National Movement, Dr Malik Baloch, Amanullah Khan Gichki of Millat Party, Nawab Ayaz Khan Jogezai of PMAP, Mir Baz Khan Khetran, a former federal minister and Abdul Rahim Mandokhel, senior deputy chairman of the PMAP.

The election results show that both the Baloch and Pakhtoon nationalist parties received a heavy blow. The BNP, which returned as the largest party in 1997 polls, bagged only two seats in the provincial assembly and one in National Assembly.

The Pakhtoonkhawa Milli Awami Party (PMAP) could get only one provincial assembly seat.

The BNP (Awami) and Balochistan National Congress were completely routed, as they could not get a single seat. However, the BNM managed to retain its vote and bagged four seats in the provincial assembly. However, its National Assembly candidate, Dr Abdul Malik was defeated by a former federal education minister Zubaida Jalal. She is the first woman of the province who contested a NA general seats.

The Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP) of Nawab Akbar Bugti could succeed three provincial seats in a house of 51. The JWP was the largest single majority party in 1990 election. It’s chief Nawab Akbar Bugti was the chief minister in the coalition government of BNA in 1988.

In the 1997 elections, BNP-Mengal emerged as single largest party and formed coalition government in the province with the support of JWP, JUI, PPP and PML-N.

Though all prominent candidates of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) lost the election in the province but it managed to secure two seats in the provincial assembly.

The latest unofficial results received here from different parts of the province show that the MMA has won 13 seats, PML-Q 12, BNM 4, JWP 3, National Alliance 4, People’s Party 2, BNP-M 2, Pakhtoonkhawa Milli Awami Party and Balochistan National Democratic Party won one seat each in the Balochistan Assembly.

According to the result six independent candidates also won provincial assembly seats.

As far as National Assembly position is concern the Muttahida Majlis Amal has so far bagged six seats followed by PML-Q, 1, PML-N 1, BNP-M 1, National Alliance 1 and independent 1. The result of three NA seats from Balochistan are yet to be declared.

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