News Analysis |
It appears that political tensions in Baluchistan have finally come to an end since the dissidents from PML-N and other parties have agreed on a candidate to lead the Baluchistan house. Abdul Quddus Bizenjo was nominated after a meeting was held at a former senator Saeed Ahmad Hashmi’s house. Hashmi confirmed that Bizenjo will be their new chief minister.
The meeting was attended by all the dissident PML-N MPAs, PML-Q and other parties who supported the no-confidence motion against the former CM Sanaullah Zehri. Bizenjo thanked his supporters for nominating him as their candidate. He also said that they would approach the leadership of all parties including National Party (NP) and Paktunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PKMAP) to gain their trust and support.
Biznejo’s government might face from the resentful members of the former government but it wouldn’t be in PML-N’s favour if any more hurdles arise so close to the senate elections.
Former chief minister Jan Muhammad Jamali showed confidence that Bizenjo will be elected unopposed but they were still ready for any opposition that should come their way. Bizenjo was the leader of the opposing MPAs who filed the no-confidence motion against now former CM, Zehri.
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In another press conference, the leader of the opposition Maulana Abdul Wassay along with other opposition members declared that they will not become a part of the next government in Baluchistan, but they will fully support any member nominated by the Pakistan Muslim League. They also vowed to block any unconstitutional move in the province.
The speaker of Baluchistan assembly Rahila Durrani requested the governor to call a session of the parliament on Wednesday to elect a new leader of the house. Governor Baluchistan has called a session of the parliament on Saturday. The papers of nomination will be submitted today.
This might help them win back some of their lost support in other provinces. They have only five seats in Baluchistan yet they are going to make their own government. PML-Q was in power in the centre from 2002 to 2007.
14 MPAs filed a no-confidence motion against the then chief minister Sanaullah Zehri, accusing his leadership of incompetence and lack of consensus in decisions. Later PML-N ministers Mir Sarfaraz Bugti, Sardar Sarfaraz Domki and Prince Ahmed Ali, followed their course and submitted their resignation.
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Repeated attempts from the central and provincial leadership of PML-N failed to appease the legislators and Sanaullah Zehri was forced to resign on Tuesday this week. Abdul Quddus Bizenjo is a member of PML-Q. He is a former deputy speaker of the Baluchistan assembly. He won the elections by winning the lowest votes ever. Bizenjo received only 544 out of the total 57,666 registered votes because separatists had announced the boycott of the elections.
Nomination of Bizenjo has dismissed the PML-N arguments that the no-confidence motion was an attempt to sabotage the senate elections in March.
 He belongs to the troubled Awaran district of Baluchistan. Sarfraz Bugti of PML-N praised his efforts in improving the situation in Awaran. If Bizenjo wins the election, the ruling party in Pakistan will only be confined to Punjab. This is the first time ever since General Pervez Musharraf left office that PML-Q is going to establish their own government in any province.
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This might help them win back some of their lost support in other provinces. They have only five seats in Baluchistan yet they are going to make their own government. PML-Q was in power in the centre from 2002 to 2007. Nomination of Bizenjo has dismissed the PML-N arguments that the no-confidence motion was an attempt to sabotage the senate elections in March.
It appears that the issue of opposing groups was only with Sanaullah Zehri and not the PML-N. If things go smoothly, the senate elections will go on as usual but it’s too early to predict the hurdles that Biznejo’s government might face from the resentful members of the former government but it wouldn’t be in PML-N’s favour if any more hurdles arise so close to the senate elections.