Zehri elected chief minister Balochistan unopposed: Raheela elected first-ever woman: Balochistan PA Speaker

President of Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) Balochistan, Nawab Sanaullah Zehri, was elected unopposed as the chief Minister of Balochistan on Thursday, replacing National Party leader Dr Abdul Malik Baloch at the helm of the provincial government after two-and-a-half years. No other candidate submitted nomination papers for the election of the Leader of the House.
Meanwhile, Ms Rahila Hameed Khan Durrani of Pakistan Muslim League-N, on Thursday took oath as Speaker Balochistan Assembly here on Thursday. Presiding Officer, Syed Liaquat Ali Agha administered oath to her at Balochistan Assembly premises. She was elected unopposed as Speaker Balochistan Assembly. She is the first woman in the history of Balochistan who had been elected as Speaker Balochistan Assembly. The seat had become vacant after then Speaker Balochistan Assembly, Mir Jan Muhammad Khan Jamali tendered his resignation following the party's instructions.
Returning Officer at the Balochistan Assembly premises announced that Miss. Rahila Hameed Khan Durrani has been elected unopposed Speaker Balochistan Assembly. Miss. Rahila Hameed Khan Durrani was elected Member Balochistan Assembly in 2013 on the ticket of Pakistan Muslim League-N for reserved seat for woman in the Balochistan Assembly. Earlier, she worked as Provincial Minister for Prosecution in the cabinet of Nawab Muhammad Aslam Raisani. She is law graduate, experienced and senior lawyer and senior office-bearer of Scouts association.
Chief Minister Balochistan-elected, Nawab Sanaullah Khan Zehri, ex-chief minister, Dr Abdul Malik Baloch, Opposition leader in the Balochistan Assembly, Maulana Abdul Wasey and provincial ministers and parliamentarians congratulated Ms Rahila Hameed Khan Durrani on assuming the office of Speaker of Balochistan Assembly. Presiding the session of the Balochistan Assembly, she said that she would play her due role for the rule of law. "I will run the House in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Assembly," she said.
Dr Abdul Malik Baloch tendered his resignation as Balochistan chief minister on Wednesday and Governor Muhammad Khan Achakzai has already accepted it. Earlier this month, Zehri was nominated as chief minister by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in his capacity as President of PML-N. Under the Murree Accord, the coalition arrangement between the PML-N, NP, and the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) after the May 2013 polls, Dr Abdul Malik Baloch was elected as the chief minister for a period of two-and-a-half years. The PML-N bagged 17 seats, PkMAP 14 and National Party 10 seats in the 65-member Balochistan Assembly in the 2013 general elections, but the smallest party of the group was awarded the exalted office for the first half of the five-year tenure in the light of the formula decided by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who said he wished to accommodate the nationalists in the larger interest of the country.