Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: After consulting his allies Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has nominated provincial president of PML-N, Nawab Sanaullah Zehri as the next chief minister of Balochistan.

“Balochistan is close to my heart and I expect he will ensure peace and security. The federal government will extend full support to him in developing Balochistan,” a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s House said. “We have handed the chief ministership to PML-N as agreed to in the Murree Accord. It is now up to the PML-N to nominate the next chief minister. In the next couple of days, Dr Malik Baloch will tender his resignation. “With thanks, we are ready to quit the post of the chief executive of Balochistan,” National Party President Senator Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo said.

Dr Abdul Malik Baloch was elected unopposed to the position of Balochistan chief minister in June 2013. Under the Murree Accord, December 4 this year was supposed to be the last day of Dr Malik Baloch as chief minister, following which a PML-N nominee was to take over for the next two and a half years. Nawab Sanaullah Zehri has been targeted in several attacks in the past. His brother, son, and nephew were killed in a powerful blast in Khuzdar district of Balochistan just a month prior to the May 11, 2013 general elections.

The meeting, held at the PM House, was attended by Mahmood Khan Achakzai, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Interior Minister Nisar Ali Khan, Minister for Railways Saad Rafique, Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and other. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had been reluctant to nominate Zehri as the new chief minister. “Though the date for change of power in Balochistan – according to the Murree Accord signed in 2013 – is over, PM Nawaz and his party, due to various reasons, has not yet reached any conclusion on the issue of changing the chief minister or handle the situation in other way,” sources in the PML-N had said earlier. These sources said that on the other hand Mir Sanaullah Zehri, who was supposed to be made CM Balochistan after half term, sensing something else, had contacted Balochistan Home Minister Sarfraz Bugti to get his support.

“Zehri has asked Bugti to protect the interests of PML-N in Balochistan and that they should take a joint stand since PML-N provincial chapter is being ignored by the top leadership,” a party official had said, adding, “Zehri pledged full support if leadership decides to bring Sarfraz Bugti as the new CM Balochistan.” According to sources close to the PM Office, Prime Minister Nawaz had been contemplating the fact that the present situation in Balochistan required continuity of power and policies and for that purpose he may let Dr Malik continue as the top executive of the province.