The party with the most seats in a particular provincial assembly should be given the first chance to form the government there. PHOTO: NNI
However, as yet it is not clear whether these rules will also apply for Balochistan. Here, the PML-N, with nine seats out of the 51 up for contest, had opted to form a government led by itself, with provincial party chief Sanaullah Zehri saying the PML-N was the largest parliamentary group in the province. Unable to form a government on its own, the PML-N had sought an alliance with Mahmood Khan Achakzai’s Pakhtukhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP), a pre-dominantly Pashtun party with liberal leanings. However, with the PkMAP’s share of seats having risen to 10, the group has claimed the right to form the government in Quetta, possibly in alliance with the National Party, which has seven seats. Other groups in what is once more a fractured assembly, can presumably be approached too. However, Mr Zehri and the PML-N insist that with at least one and possibly other independents set to join it, it can stake claim as the party which holds the right to form government.
All this is, to say the least, unfortunate. As the single party with most seats, the PkMAP has every right to be given a chance to form government. This is clearly laid out under the Eighteenth Amendment. Attempting to play the game of independents and win over their support is not wise at this point. For the sake of Balochistan, the mandate of its people must be respected, so that there can be some hope of stability in a highly troubled province, where further rift or political controversy needs to be strictly avoided at all costs.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 18th, 2013.
COMMENTS (3)
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PMLN should follow the principle and not be blackmailed by the uprising movements
And what makes you think all the independents and other parties would have readily joined Fazal and PML-N? Fact is, they wouldn't and there's no reason. JI and Qaumi Watan Party preferred PTI, who's the majority and the rightful government. Fazal has no moral right here.
A fair and balanced editorial by ET editors. It is only fair and principled stand that a majority party should always be invited to form the govt. Only if it fails to muster a majority then whoever can show majority would be given a chance. It is a shame that NS gave PTI a chance to form govt in KPK even though Fazal was ready to come up with a majority be including independents and other. By not giving Baloch the same right Sharif is not doing the country any favors. The question is why he did not try to make a govt with Fazal in KPK when he could? Perhpas TTP who acted as protector and mentors of both NS and IK's parties would have been upset with NS if he would not let IK form a govt in KPK. The number of seats won by PML-N in Balochistan is dubious and not trust worthy. Some of its members have won by obtaining 500 votes! Yet the EC and govt claims the elections free, fair and highest voter turnout!