Balochistan chief minister: Premier names Zehri as Dr Malik’s successor

Murree deal to be honoured for smooth transition of power

ISLAMABAD:

Consistent with the tripartite Murree agreement, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has nominated the head of the ruling party’s Balochistan chapter as the next chief minister of the province. Sanaullah Zehri will be taking over Dr Abdul Malik’s job.

“Balochistan is close to my heart, and I expect that the nominated CM will work for peace and security in the province,” a statement issued by the PM House quoted the premier as saying. “The federal government will continue to extend maximum support for Balochistan’s development.”

Before announcing the change, Nawaz consulted with all the stakeholders. A two-hour meeting with Zehri followed during which the prime minister issued a series of guidelines about the responsibilities of the new chief minister.

The premier made the announcement of the new CM during a huddle with senior leaders of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, the Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party and the National Party – the three parties that co-signed the 2013 Murree deal.

Among the attendees of the consultative meeting were PkMAP’s Mahmood Khan Achakzai; federal ministers Ishaq Dar, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Khawaja Saad Rafique and Pervaiz Rashid; Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif; NP’s Hasil Bizenjo and CM Malik.

The trilateral meeting also discussed the mechanism for a smooth transition of power, according to which CM Malik would resign after Zehri returns to Quetta. The governor is expected to accept the resignation and convene a session of the provincial assembly for a vote of confidence and election of the new leader of the house. The oath-taking ceremony is likely to be held on Monday.

After the consultative huddle, PM Nawaz held a detailed meeting with States and Frontier Regions Minister Lt Gen (retd) Abdul Qadir Baloch and Zehri.

Sharing power

The Murree agreement was signed by the PML-N, the PkMAP and the NP on June 4, 2013. According to the deal, the slots of three advisers to the CM and eight ministers in the Balochistan cabinet were given to the PML-N.

The NP got its chief minister and a reasonable share in the cabinet, while the PkMAP got the governorship and ministries.  The agreement expired this December 4. According to officials, a consensus has been evolved: among the signatories: PkMAP will retain its governorship, while the NP will get the same number of ministries and advisers as the PML-N had. Malik will most probably replace Zehri as senior minister in Balochistan, subject to his consent.

Meanwhile, Zehri met with Achakzai, Bizenjo and CM Malik at the Balochistan House in Islamabad, where they all agreed to employ reconciliatory politics to run the affairs of the province.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 11^th, 2015.