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Thursday, March 14, 2024

New chief minister Balochistan nominated

News Analysis |

The six-party alliance that is leading with the majority seats in the Balochistan assembly held a joint meeting of parliamentary leaders late Thursday night in Quetta. The leaders of various parties unanimously nominated the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) president Jam Kamal Khan Alyani for the slot of chief minister in the provincial assembly of Balochistan.

The Balochistan Awami Party, the Awami National Party, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, the Hazara Democratic Party (HDP), Balochistan National Party (BNP-Awami) and Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP) were in attendance. Former Chief Minister Mir Abdul Quddus Bizenjo was nominated for the slot of a speaker of Balochistan Assembly.

Jamal Khan told the media that the BAP had the simple majority it needs i.e. 33 seats to form the government in Balochistan. Last week, leaders of the BAP said that negotiations are underway with the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal and the BNP Mengal over their joining the BAP-led alliance

Earlier, there had been reports of disagreements over the nomination of president of BAP for the Chief Minister Balochistan. The Balochistan chapter of the Tehreek-i-Insaf and BNP Mengel had reportedly expressed reservations. The Balochistan Awami Party had announced their unconditional support for PTI after managing to become the majority party in Balochistan. “We just raised objections over the sudden nomination for the chief minister post without consultation of the parliamentary board, the president of PTI Balochistan said.

read more: Abdul Quddus Bizenjo nominated as next CM Baluchistan

There are a total of 65 seats in the provincial assembly of Balochistan. 51 are filled by direct elections. There are eleven seats reserved for minorities and three for women. The BAP managed to secure 15 seats, emerging as the largest party. The Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal won eight seats. Five seats were won by independents. The PTI also won five seats in Balochistan. Moreover, BAP has won 4 out of the 272 national assembly seats. A total of 16 MNAs go to the national assembly from Balochistan. Former leading nationalist political parties such as the National Party (NP) and the PkMAP were whitewashed from the province.

The fact that new parties have come to the fore is indicative of the change people in Balochistan have yearned for over a years. The voter turnout in the 2013 general elections for 38.97 percent. This time, it increased to a record 43%, despite security threats and multiple deadly terrorist attacks that claimed the lives of over a hundred Baloch citizens.

Read more: BJP leader responsible for ‘Free Balochistan’ signs abroad

After his nomination, Jamal Khan told the media that the BAP had the simple majority it needs i.e. 33 seats to form the government in Balochistan. Last week, leaders of the BAP said that negotiations are underway with the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal and the BNP Mengal over their joining the BAP-led alliance. Since the leading coalition has the majority it needs to rule in Balochistan, there probably won’t be as weak a government in Balochistan as last time around. The leader of BAP vowed to fight corruption in Balochistan and to ensure good governance in Balochistan.