QUETTA: Caretaker Prime Minister retired Justice Mir Hazar Khan Khoso has appealed to the disgruntled Baloch leaders to respect, despite their differences with the government, the aspirations of the people who wanted to participate in the coming elections.

Presiding over a meeting here on Thursday that reviewed arrangements for the elections, he said the people of Balochistan wanted to participate in them. “In view of the will of the people, disgruntled Baloch leaders should respect their desire,” he said.

He said it was the responsibility of the political forces to help the government complete the election process in a democratic and peaceful environment.

The prime minister was informed that the number of registered voters in the province had decreased after removal from the electoral lists of over a million names.

Officials said stringent security arrangements were being made for the elections and special arrangements had been planned for the sensitive districts identified by the authorities concerned.

The prime minister said safety of the voters, candidates and polling staff should be ensured.

He was informed that officials of the Election Commission of Pakistan were receiving threats and the government had prepared a comprehensive strategy to cope with the situation.

He said the media and the provincial government should help restore the confidence of the people and provide them a conducive atmosphere for voting.

The federal government would help the provincial authorities in this regard, he said.

Meanwhile, a delegation of the PML-N, led by its provincial chief Sardar Sanaullah Zehri, called on the prime minister and assured him that his party would extend full cooperation in holding the polls in a free, fair and peaceful manner.

The PML-N leaders expressed confidence in the electoral process.