QUETTA: The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUIF) candidate from PB-36 Kalat, Saeed Ahmed Langove, has alleged serious irregularities in the election process, claiming that missing ballot boxes were used to manipulate the results in favor of his opponent.
Speaking at a press conference at the Quetta Press Club on Sunday, Saeed Langove said that according to voter lists at seven polling stations, a total of 92 ballot boxes were required, but due to alleged collusion by election officials, only 34 ballot boxes were delivered to the polling stations.
He claimed that the remaining 58 ballot boxes were missing and were allegedly used by his rival candidate, Zia Langove, to stamp ballot papers to manipulate the results. Saeed Langove claimed that video evidence and recorded statements of the presiding officers were available to support his claims. He added that he would approach the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and subsequently the courts to seek justice.
Saeed Langove said he contested the February 8, 2024 general election in Balochistan on a JUIF ticket. Out of 92 polling stations in the constituency, he claimed that about 95 per cent of the election process was transparent, except at seven polling stations including Johangazk and Narmuk. According to him, his opponent and his associates allegedly seized ballot papers and boxes from these stations at gunpoint and kept them at a secret location for 24 hours, stamping them in their favor.
He said that when he and his supporters protested, the District Returning Officer (DRO) initially provided results from 85 polling stations, showing him leading by 2,294 votes. However, the next day, he alleged that the Returning Officer (RO) and DRO conspired to issue Form 47 and Form 49 to his rival, declaring him the winner, which he described as a violation of the people’s mandate in Kalat.
Saeed Langove further stated that on March 10, 2026, the Election Commission of Pakistan ordered re-polling at seven polling stations. He alleged that the DRO, RO of Kalat, and the provincial government then began efforts to undermine his campaign. He said he requested the list of presiding officers and polling staff but was not provided with it, claiming that many of the officials were relatives or political workers of his opponent.
According to Saeed, the seven polling stations had 8,838 registered voters, which required 92 ballot boxes. However, only 34 ballot boxes were present, while 58 were allegedly missing and later used in a closed room during the night in favor of his opponent.
He added that during visits to the polling stations with his colleagues, presiding officers provided written and video statements confirming that they had been given only 34 ballot boxes. He said attempts to contact the authorities were unsuccessful.
Langove also claimed that while traveling to Kalat, he was stopped for two hours at an FC checkpoint. Later, unidentified armed men allegedly threatened him on the way, but he exercised restraint to avoid any violent incident. He said it was unclear whether the armed men belonged to any organization, but he believed the incident was part of a larger conspiracy by his opponent, which he strongly condemned.
