One-point agenda: Balochistan CM hopeful lists peace as priority

Sanaullah Zehri says all parties desire strong government in the province.

QUETTA:

The president of the Balochistan chapter of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Sardar Sanaullah Zehri, has said that if he was assigned the office of chief minister, he would have one-point agenda: peace in the province.

Sanaullah Zehri, who lost his son, brother and cousin in a bomb attack on his campaign rally in April, was speaking at a news conference in Quetta on Wednesday. At the news conference he also introduced the winning candidates who have decided to support the PML-N.



Two winning candidates – Raza Muhammad Agha and Sarfraz Bugti – announced that they were joining the PML-N unconditionally.

Zehri said all parties desired a strong government which could restore peace in Balochistan – a province racked by ethnic, sectarian, separatist and militant violence. “Balochistan needs a strongman who could end uncertainty in the province,” he added.

Responding to a question, Zehri said PML-N’s provincial leadership has nominated him for the office of chief minister. He added that Gen (retd) Abdul Qadir Baloch is the best choice for federal interior minister.

To another question, he said a strong opposition was necessary for ensuring good governance. He blamed the absence opposition in the provincial assembly for the failure of the Nawab Aslam Raisani-led government.

Meanwhile, the government-making efforts are gaining momentum in Balochistan. A delegation of Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP), led by its provincial chief Usman Kakar, met with Zehri at his residence to discuss the make-up of future provincial government.

According to PML-N sources, a five-member committee, comprising Gen (retd) Abdul Qadir Baloch, Hajji Lashkari Raisani, Naseebullah Bazai, Jamal Shah and Sardar Yaqoob Nasir, has been formed to negotiate with other parties.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 16^th, 2013.