Shutter down in Balochistan amid allegations of election rigging

QUETTA: Today, major cities in Balochistan, including Quetta, are witnessing a complete shutter-down strike in protest against alleged election rigging in the 2024 general elections.

As a result, commercial centers and shops in Quetta city are closed, and city roads have sparse traffic.

The strike, endorsed by four prominent political parties of Balochistan – Pashtunkhawa mili awami Party, Balochistan National Party, Hazara Democratic Party, and National Party – aims to highlight their claims of electoral manipulation.

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These parties insist that the election results, particularly in constituencies where their candidates emerged victorious, must be upheld without alteration.

However, the Balochistan Government refutes allegations of election rigging, dismissing them as baseless. Caretaker Information Minister John Achakzai urges losing parties to exercise patience and refrain from agitation.

He emphasizes that these parties retain the right to challenge election outcomes through appropriate channels.

Moreover, in Balochistan’s border town of Chaman, a shutter-down strike is also underway following the appeal of the Awami National Party (ANP). ANP has announced the closure of all banks and government offices starting today.