Balochistan polling stations ‘sensitive’

Karachi, February 5

About 80 per cent of the polling stations established for Thursday’s general elections in Pakistan’s restive Balochistan province have been declared sensitive or highly sensitive by the authorities. Of the total 5,028 polling stations in Balochistan, only 961 (approx 19 per cent) are designated as normal, Balochistan’s Interior Minister Zubair Jamali said, expressing serious concerns about the potential security challenges in the province during the polls.

While 2,337 polling stations have been declared sensitive, 1,730 are classified as highly sensitive, he said. Jamali said given the recent terror incidents in Balochistan with attempted strikes on security forces, installations, government servants and civilians, security on the polling day would be very tight.

Balochistan’s caretaker Information Minister Jan Achakzai on Sunday announced that internet services would be temporarily suspended in areas with polling stations marked as sensitive on the day of the election in the province.

In a statement, the minister said social media platforms could be utilised by terrorists for communication purposes on polling day. To mitigate this risk, access to the internet would be restricted in various areas, including Turbat, Macch, and Chaman.