Balochistan National Party (Mengal) and its ally, former Chief Minister Aslam Raisani, secured their seats in the by-polls in Balochistan.
According to the details, by-polls in Balochistan occurred under high security as both the provincial constituencies were considered the most sensitive areas of Balochistan.
The elections were held on 14 October against two seats in Balochistan, after Akhtar Mengal vacated his provincial seat in his hometown Wadh and in Mastung where polls were cancelled after a suicide attack on Siraj Raisani, in which he was killed.
BNP Mengal’s candidate Akbar Mengal competed and won against the arch-rival of Akhtar Mengal, Shafiq Mengal, who is often accused of committing war-crimes in Balochistan.
At the end of the poll day, Akbar Mengal secured Akhtar Mengal’s vacated seat with a lead of 10 thousand votes.
Interestingly, Akbar Mengal bagged more votes than the party leader Akhtar Mengal in his hometown.
Akbar Mengal who had remained an MPA in past is the uncle of Shafiq Mengal, against whom he competed and secured the seat with the support of MMA, an alliance of religious parties. Shafiq Mengal was supported by former ruling party, National Party.
In Mastung, Former Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani made it to the provincial assembly in by-polls, where elections were cancelled due to the killing of his brother Siraj Raisani, a candidate of BAP.
Aslam Raisani was supported by BNP mengal, against the candidate of ruling party BAP.
After the by-polls, BAP will face a much stronger opposition in the parliament as two seasoned politicians will be sitting on the opposition benches.