Below is an article published by The Nation:

Over 40 candidates are contesting the by-elections on NA-262 (Qila Abdullah-Chaman), PB-29 (Nasirabad-2), PB-32 (Jhal Magsi) and PB-44 (Lasbela-1).

The NA-262 fell vacant after Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) Chairman Mahmood Khan Achakzai retained his NA-259 (Quetta) seat.

The election result of PB-29 was cancelled on the orders of the Supreme Court after the degree of winning candidate, Mir Abdul Ghafoor Lehri of PML-N, was found fake. BP-44 was vacated by Jam Mir Kamal Khan who retained his National Assembly seat. The Election Commission has finalised arrangements for holding by-elections in the four constituencies.

NA-262, Qila Abdullah

Total registered voters in NA 262 are 184,749 – 117,293 male and 67,456 female. NA-262 was vacated by Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) Chairman Mahmood Khan Achakzai who retained NA-259.

Pakhtunknwa Milli Awami Party’s candidate is Abdul Qahar Khan Wadan who enjoys support of PML-N and PPP. Qari Muhammad Sher Ali is a candidate of JUI-F and has support of ANP. The ANP candidate withdrew his candidature in favour of the JUI-F candidate. The real fight is expected between PkMAP candidate Abdul Qahar Khan Wadan and JUI-F’s Qari Muhammad Sher Ali.

PB-29, Nasirabad-11

On this provincial assembly seat, actual competition is expected among PML-N candidate Mir Muhammad Khan Lehri, independent candidate former provincial minister Mir Muhammad Amin Umrani and BNP-Mengal candidate Mir Muhammad Ismail Mengal. Total registered voters here are 84,198 –47,290 male and 36,908 female.

According to the election commission, around 70 polling stations have been set up in PB-29, Nasirabad-11, of which 15 are very sensitive and 55 sensitive.

The election result of PB-29 was cancelled on the order of the Supreme Court after the degree of winning candidate Mir Abdul Ghafoor Lehri of PML-N was found fake.

PB-32, Jhal Magsi

Former opposition leader Nawabzada Tariq Magsi who is contesting independently, Sardar Dhani Bakhsh Lashari of PML-N and Maulvi Abdul Fatah Lashari of JUI-F are the main contesters on PB-32.

According to the Balochistan Election Commission, around 44,533 voters – 26,337 male and 18,196 female – are registered here. Around 51 polling stations have been set up in PB-32 of which 25 are very sensitive and 26 sensitive.

The election on PB-32 had been postponed due to the murder of Abdul Fateh Magsi, an independent candidate. He was gunned down along with several others allegedly by his rivals.

PB-44, Lesbela-1

On the provincial assembly seat of PB-44, Prince Ahmad Ali of PML-N, Raees Nawaz Ali Burfat, independent, and Nasrullah Roonjha of PPP are expected to give tough time to one another. Prince Ahmed Ali is the grandson of late Khan of Kalat and Jam Ghulam Qadir Khan of Lasbela. He has remained chairman of District Council Lasbela and has bright chances of retaining the seat of Jam and Khan family.

Around 82,824 voters – 46,199 male and 36,625 female – are registered in PB-44. Total polling stations here are 94 of which 30 are very sensitive and 24 sensitive.

PB-44 was vacated by Jam Mir Kamal Khan son of former chief minister, late Mir Jam Muhammad Yousuf, who retained his National Assembly seat.