JUI-F leader Maulana Abdul Wasay alleges rigging in PB-36 Kalat by-election

Maulana Abdul Wasay, the Balochistan emir of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) (JUI-F), on Thursday alleged large-scale irregularities in the recent by-election in constituency PB-36 Kalat.

Speaking at a press conference in Quetta, Abdul Wasay claimed that the election in PB-36 Kalat was “an auction rather than an election,” alleging that the process was part of a broader plan against his party.

He said that efforts were repeatedly made in elections to defeat candidates of JUI-F. According to him, the party’s candidate had secured a lead of about 2,000 votes in the Kalat seat before the alleged irregularities occurred.

Abdul Wasay also referred to a video circulating in the media, claiming it showed that only two ballot papers were present where 13 were required. He further alleged that around 20 ballot boxes were tampered with or went missing during the process.

The JUI-F leader said the situation had caused disappointment among the party’s candidates and workers regarding the political process. However, he added that the party’s leadership had historically remained committed to democratic engagement.

He said the party would convene a meeting of its Majlis-e-Shura after Eid al-Fitr to consult its central leadership on whether it should continue to participate in the democratic process.

“As long as we remain part of the system, we will maintain contact with political parties,” Abdul Wasay said, while adding that the current government was “not a democratic government but someone else’s government.”

Commenting on regional matters, he said there was an Islamic government in Afghanistan and called on Afghan authorities to prevent cross-border infiltration. He also stressed that Pakistan should resolve its issues with Afghanistan through dialogue.