Consensus at last: Dr Malik to head Balochistan govt

Nawaz Sharif says PML-N displayed ‘spirit of sacrifice’; says next governor will be from PkMAP.

ISLAMABAD: Weeks of media speculation end.

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has unveiled the would-be chief minister of Balochistan. Surprisingly, he’s not from PML-N – the single largest party with 17 lawmakers in the 62-member house. Dr Abdul Malik Baloch, the chief minister-designate, is the president of National Party which has 10 seats in the provincial assembly.

“I don’t believe in politics of power. I want to promote politics of democratic values in the country,” Nawaz Sharif, the prime minister-in-waiting and PML-N supremo, told journalists after a meeting in the popular summer resort of Murree on Sunday.

With Balochistan’s demography in mind, Nawaz also decided to strike a balance between the two major ethnic groups in the province – the Baloch and the Pakhtun. The next provincial governor will be from Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP), he said.

At the news conference Nawaz was flanked by PML-N’s provincial chief Sanaullah Zehri, Mir Hasil Bizenjo of NP, Mehmood Khan Achakzai of PkMAP and Nawabzada Jangayz Marri, the elder son of Baloch leader Nawab Khair Bakhsh Marri.

Zehri, Marri and Dr Malik were the frontrunners for the top office. Since the PML-N is the single largest party in the provincial legislature, Zehri had been tipped as the favourite choice.

“The PML-N displayed a spirit of sacrifice for the greater interest of the country and the province,” Nawaz told journalists. “Today is the day of rejoicing for all those who believe in the rule of law, supremacy of the Constitution and have fought against the forces of tyranny and dictatorship.”

Today’s decision, he added, is the first step towards restoration of peace in Balochistan. The new administration will be transparent and will promote good governance in the province.

Reiterating his party’s roadmap for stabilising Balochistan, Nawaz said that they would make efforts to bring the disgruntled Baloch nationalists into the political mainstream.

The Frontier Corps (FC) has been accused by nationalist parties of rampant rights violations in Balochistan. Asked about the paramilitary force’s role under new administration, Nawaz said the elected government would make policies and all institutions, being subservient to the elected government, would have to follow them.

Mehmood Khan Achakzai, whose PkMAP is the second largest party in the provincial assembly with 14 legislators, said that Dr Malik’s nomination would augur well for democracy in Pakistan. “Today, Punjab’s attitude is purely democratic. If you are creating a democratic Pakistan we’ll stand by you till doomsday,” Achakzai said addressing Nawaz.

He added that the PML-N’s decision to nominate the chief minister from an allied party despite having a majority in the assembly has addressed the grievances of both Pakhtun and Baloch communities.

“This day will be remembered as a landmark. It’ll go a long way in resolving the problems facing Balochistan,” he added. “A strong coalition government will be established in the province that will lay the foundation of a truly democratic Pakistan.”

Hasil Bezenjo also thanked the PML-N president for Dr Malik’s nomination. He said that if the new provincial government, aided by the Centre, managed to put an end to enforced disappearances and targeted killings, Balochistan could become an integral part of Pakistan.

Nawab Sanaullah Zehri assured the chief minister-designate of full cooperation.

Political analysts believe Dr Malik’s nomination bodes well for the future of democracy in Pakistan. It’s the second time since the May 11 elections the PML-N preferred to uphold democratic values. Earlier, the party had snubbed an offer from Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s JUI-F to form a coalition government in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa where Pakistan Tahreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has emerged as the single largest party.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 3^rd, 2013.