Final phase of Balochistan LG polls ends

QUETTA: The final phase of local bodies polls was completed amid tight security measures on Wednesday in Balochistan.
According to unofficial results, Dr Kaleemullah of PkMAP has been elected the Mayor of Quetta Metropolitan Corporation and Mohammad Yunus Baloch of the PML-N Deputy Mayor, Quetta Municipal Corporation. The seats of chairman and deputy chairman, District Council, Quetta, were secured by Naeem Bazai and Asmat Bazai respectively.
The All Parties Democratic Alliance (APDA) and Watan Dost Jamhori panel announced their candidates for the offices of Mayor and Deputy Mayor, Quetta Metropolitan Corporation, and Chairman and Vice Chairman, District Council, Quetta, respectively.
Earlier, the oath taking of all the elected councilors against special seats of women, kissans, labourers and minorities under Section 28 of Balochistan Local Government Act 2010 and Rule 56 Balochistan Local Government Election Rules 2013, was held at the Metropolitan Corporation hall. Following the oath taking, the returning officer scrutinised the nomination papers and as many as 86 out of 87 members cast their vote for mayors, deputy mayors, chairmen and deputy chairmen.
Dr Kaleemullah secured 54 votes for Mayor and Mohammad Yunus Baloch got 56 votes for Deputy Mayor as per the unofficial notification.Dr Kaleemullah’s closest rival Abdul Qahir Achakzai from the All Parties Democratic Alliance bagged 14 votes and PTI candidate Malik Khuda Bakhsh four votes while Yunus Baloch’s rival APDA candidate Raza Wakeel got 14 votes.
The elections were held under the supervision of District Presiding Officer, Assistant Commissioner Tariq Mengal. Polling began at 9am and continued till 5pm. Strict arrangements were made during the final phase of LG polls. However, no incident of violence was reported.
Meanwhile, Sardar Akbar Sheikh was elected as Chairman of Lasbela District and Qadir Bakhsh as Vice Chairman unopposed. Nawabzada Mir also secured unchallenged the chairmanship of Jhal Magsi district whereas Safdar Ali Shah was elected vice chairman of the same. Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) Mir Amjad Ali Khan Khoso was elected as Chairman while Fahad Khan as Vice Chairman of the Suhbat Pur District Council.
In Dera Bugti, PML-N’s Mir Ghulam Nabi Shambani was elected as Chairman of the District Council whereas Mir Shah Murad Musawari as Vice Chairman unopposed.Later, talking to newsmen after their election as Mayor and Deputy Mayor, Dr Kaleemullah and Yunus Baloch said their success was a challenge for them, as hard work was needed to resolve the 25 years problems.
They said Quetta city was faced with multifarious problems, particularly terrorism and lack of cleanliness, for the past 25 years and people were facing this situation. “First of all we would bring honest and experienced people in the field and request them for their cooperation,” they said.