Rifts in Balochistan coalition govt stir PML-N concern

NP not happy with CM Zehri’s attitude towards the party, political victimisation

ISLAMABAD: At a time when the ruling PML-N is striving to forge unity in its ranks to face the possible political challenges in the wake of the apex court’s verdict on Panamagate case, cracks in the PML-N-led coalition government in Balochistan are a cause of concern for the ruling party’s leadership.

The gravity of the situation has necessitated the intervention of none other than Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who is in contact with the PML-N’s provincial leadership and the party’s allies in the province – particularly the National Party (N-P) – in a bid to defuse the tension, The Express Tribune has learnt.



The PML-N and the N-P are not on the same page over a number of issues concerning Balochistan’s politics. Reportedly, the N-P complains that its lawmakers are not being provided development funds and not involved in policy-making at the provincial level. It also believes that key administrative decisions are being taken by bypassing the N-P leadership, the sources said.

Not long ago, the N-P leadership approached the premier to complain that Balochistan Chief Minister Sanaullah Zehri’s attitude towards the coalition partner was hostile and that the N-P activists were implicated in politically motivated cases in the province.

In a bid to defuse tension, the PM summoned CM Zehri, the N-P’s leader and former CM Dr Abdul Malik Baloch in Islamabad and held separate meetings with them the same day (February 10).

Reportedly, the PM had expressed displeasure over the CM’s attitude towards the N-P and instructed Zehri to address the N-P’s reservations and “not to provide them a reason to complain.”

The CM is said to have assured Sharif that he would be ‘careful’ in handling the affairs involving the N-P in future. However, the situation has since not changed much and the N-P still holds reservations over the attitude of PML-N’s provincial leadership, according to insiders.



In the 64-member Balochistan Assembly, the PML-N has 21 seats and it has formed the government in alliance with PkMAP (14 seats) and the N-P (11 seats).

As part of an agreement, Dr Abdul Malik took oath as the CM of the province first and Zehri took over after 2.5 years to serve as the CM for the remaining term.

A source said it was part of the same agreement that PML-N would protect the political interests of its allies and vice versa. They said the N-P now feels that the same agreement is being breached.

“Certain demands of Zehri regarding transfers and postings in Balochistan’s bureaucracy were not accepted by Malik when he was the CM. This had offended Zehri, who apparently started confronting the N-P after coming into power,” he said.

Initially, the PkMAP also had reservations over Zehri’s attitude but given that the party chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai enjoys close association with PM Sharif, these complaints have been largely addressed.

Another reason of rift between the PML-N and the N-P is the JUI-F’s politics, he added.

Interestingly, the JUI-F, which is the PML-N’s frontline ally at the Centre, is the opposition party in Balochistan Assembly with seven seats. The insider said that JUI-F was trying to draw political mileage in Balochistan by inching closer to PML-N at the cost of ‘undermining’ political importance of the N-P.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, senior PML-N leader from Balochistan and Chief Minister’s Adviser Sardar Dur Muhammad Nasar, MPA, dispelled the impression of disagreement.

“I think they (N-P) received their fair share in the power arrangement given that they were the first one to have the province’s CM.  Now, our party’s CM is running the affairs efficiently and smoothly.”