QUETTA: The local bodies elections in Balochistan will be held on Saturday amid tight security while election campaign for local bodies elections ended at 12:00 midnight.
All arrangements have been completed in all 32 districts of the province for the polling which will start at 8am and will continue till 5pm without any break across the province.
The provincial government has announced public holiday in the province on Saturday because of local bodies polls. The government has also imposed section 144 and banned pillion riding in the entire province from December 6 to 10 to make the whole electoral process peaceful and smooth.
There are 3.2 million registered voters who will cast their votes for 4350 seats while by polls will be held on 503 vacant seats after December 7. As many as 11,847 booths have been set up in 5,718 polling stations.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan People Party (PPP), National Party, Balochistan National Party (BNP), BNP (A), Awami National Party (ANP), Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Hazara Democratic Party (HDP) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) have fielded their candidates for the Balochistan local bodies polls.
On the other hand, Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP) and Haq Na Tawar parties have announced a boycott of polls.
In order to maintain peace during local government elections in Balochistan, 54,446 security personnel including Frontier Corps, police and Balochistan constabulary have been deployed across the province.
Likewise, army willd remain on alert as Quick Response Force while Pakistan army helicopters will also be ready for any situation in sensitive areas.
