Conflicts arise over Balochistan caretaker CM nomination

QUETTA: The question of who will be Balochistan’s caretaker chief minister remains undecided, despite the onus now resting on the parliamentary committee convened by the Balochistan Assembly.

This came after the outgoing chief minister Mir Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo and opposition leader Malik Sikander Khan failed to reach an agreement on a candidate. The situation escalated as opposition parties disputed the nomination of committee members.

The controversy arose when the opposition leader proposed Mir Ali Mardan Domki as a consensus candidate for the position, a decision that was not accepted by Bizenjo. As a result, the matter was referred to a parliamentary committee to finalise the selection through a vote.

Parliamentary committee to nominate Balochistan caretaker CM

According to Dawn.com, tensions further escalated as both the Balochistan National Party (BNP-Mengal) and Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) voiced concerns over their representation in the committee. BNP-Mengal and PkMAP called for inclusion in the process, citing their status as part of the opposition during the previous assembly.

Bizenjo nominated three representatives for the government side in the parliamentary committee, including himself, Sardar Abdul Rehman Khetran from BAP, and ANP’s Zamarak Khan Piralizai. However, an objection was raised regarding Bizenjo’s nomination, adding another layer of complexity to the proceedings.

Despite these challenges, the formation of the parliamentary committee remains pending. While Akhtar Mengal expressed his astonishment over the nomination process and the omission of Mir Hammal Kalmati’s name, Balochistan Governor Malik Abdul Wali Kakar refuted rumors of his resignation.