Caretaker CM Balochistan Nawab Ghaus Bakhsh Barozai. PHOTO: FILE
In an unprecedented move, the caretaker government of Balochistan announced the creation of two more districts — Sohbatpur and Lehri — days before its departure.
Sources say the reason for this is not administrative, but political. Dividing the Khosa and Domki strongholds will allegedly benefit both the outgoing caretaker CM Balochistan and the caretaker prime minister.
Caretaker Chief Minister Nawab Ghaus Bakhsh Barozai’s brother lost the elections in Sibi. It is, reportedly, after this incident that the decision to separate Sibi from Lehri was taken to ensure that Barozai retains his seat from Sibi. Hailing from Sohbatpur, caretaker prime minister Khoso was also seen supporting a candidate who eventually lost to Mir Zafarullah Jamali from the Jaffarabad constituency. Khoso, upset at the defeat, reportedly separated Sohbatpur from Jaffarabad district to ensure undivided political influence in the region.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 22nd, 2013.
COMMENTS (6)
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Let me correct my fellow countrymen that its not the fault of writer but the caretaker government who overstep its mandate in the last day by creating two districts on ethnic basis, to have a political mileage in their home constituencies. And before blaming the writer I suggest that one should know that what's the difference between a news and an analysis. As this is just a piece of news.
I my correct my fellow countrymen that its not the fault of writer but it is the caretaker government which has overstep its mandate in its last days by creating two districts on ethnics basis to get a political mileage in their home constituencies. Its just a piece of news not an analysis.
For anyone who follows Baluchistan's politics, the excessive rigging practiced by the Domki's in Lehri area is no secret. That our media has no access there only makes the situation worse. And then you see such uninformed "news" stories coming out in national papers.
I agree with the comment above that this was a Musharraf era decision that negatively effected the inhabitatnts of Sibi by linking them to the Lehri area. This is a long overdue step. I
Writer is complete ignorant of history of this issue. Sibi was a separate district which was combined by Musharraf for his political benefits. This decision was taken long ago but was held back due to courts stay order. So please don't write what ever you can make up. Please try to stay with actual facts
The reporter does not seem to know (or is deliberately hiding) the fact that Sibi and Lehri were separate districts, combined during the time of Musharaf. The decision to separate them had been taken long ago but due to Domki's power the notification was never issued. The caretaker government has corrected a wrong by issuing the notification.
The writer seems to be unnecessarily politicising a purely administrative issue. The division of Sibi was long overdue on administrative basis