BAP factions convene parallel meetings

Agendas of the two conferences to focus on intra-party elections

QUETTA:

In a desperate struggle to outplay each other, rival factions of the ruling Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) have convened separate council meetings in Quetta with a one-point agenda – intra-party elections.

Chief Minister Mir Quddus Bizenjo and former CM Jam Kamal have locked horns ever since the creation of BAP by the establishment to keep a check on nationalists parties in Balochistan which finally culminated in a successful no-confidence motion against Jam last year.

The no-confidence motion de-seated him but this political feud is far from over as technically he is still the party president.

Chief Minister Quddus Bizenjo-led faction has convened the general council meeting at Boy Scouts Headquarters Quetta on June 19 (Sunday) which is supposed to elect new office-bearers, including party president.

This further complicated the ruling party situation, which already has been suffering from internal divisions.

Former chief minister Jam Kamal strongly reacted to this announcement and directed the office-bearers and members of the executive committee to stay away from the meeting.

“Constitutionally, only the party president can convene the session,” he said in a press statement.

However, the Bizenjo-led faction, which enjoys the support of party Secretary-General Senator Manzoor Kakar, has announced it will hold the meeting (to elect a new president).

Their supporters have installed placards in various parts of the city to attract supporters to join the council meeting.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, June 18^th, 2022.