Nawab Sanaullah Zehri, the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) provincial chief, is expected to take oath as the new Chief Minister Balochistan on Tuesday with a task to expedite the ongoing efforts of bringing the estranged Baloch leaders back to mainstream politics, it was learnt.
This was confirmed by PML-N's Balochistan spokesperson Allauddin Kakar, who is also provincial secretary information of the ruling party. Kakar told Business Recorder that the outgoing chief minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch will chair his last cabinet meeting on Sunday or Monday which would be followed by the announcement of his resignation.
"Nawab Sanaullah Zehri considers bringing the estranged Baloch leaders to the mainstream politics as his top priority, and we are hopeful he would succeed in his efforts and give the good news to the people of Balochistan," Kakar said expressing his optimism that the ongoing efforts will surely bear fruit. Sources privy to the development told Business Recorder that before taking a final decision on the nomination of Zehri as chief minister, the option to give another six months to Dr Baloch of the National Party was also under consideration.
Zehri recently met the Khan of Kalat Mir Suleman Daud Khan in London as part of the reconciliation policy of the government and requested him to come back to the country. Earlier, a delegation sent by the Balochistan government held a meeting with the Khan of Kalat who expressed willingness to return only if a 'grand Baloch jirga' decides on his return.
The Khan of Kalat had left the country after a grand Jirga was held in Kalat in September 2006 following the killing of senior Baloch leader Nawab Akbar Bugti in a military operation during the government of General Musharraf. According to sources, following the killing of Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti, differences within the Bugti tribe over the leadership erupted which further intensified after the demise of Talal Akbar Bugti, the eldest son of the late Nawab Akbar Bugti.
To a question, Kakar said that PML-N, as per the power sharing agreement, extended its full support to Dr Malik Baloch for the last two and a half years and expressed the hope that the current coalition will continue. "We hope the co-operative relationship continues for another two and a half years for the development of the province and prosperity of its people", the PML-N provincial chapter leader stated.