Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani has deprived Minister for Communication and Works Sadiq Umrani, who is the provincial chief of the PPP, from his portfolio and allotted the ministry to the party’s two other ministers after bifurcating it. The portfolio of Building is assigned to Ali Madad Jattak and Roads to Agha Irfan Karim.
The chief minister opted for the harsh step after developing differences with Umrani who started campaign against him and accused him of working against the party interests in the province. And a physical scuffle between Umrani and Finance Minister Mir Asim Kurd Gaillu of PML-Q at the Balochistan House Islamabad, proved a catalyst after which Raisani took the decision in consultation with party’s MPAs and ministers.
Asim, despite being the PML-Q parliamentary leader in the Balochistan Assembly, is a close aide of Raisani. He held a meeting of PML-Q MPAs, who form the largest group (18) in the assembly, as reposed their confidence in the leadership of chief minister at reunion. Umrani started campaigning for the chief minister’s slot by cashing on the uneasy relationship between President Asif Ali Zardari, also PPP co-chairman, and Chief Minister Raisani.
The by-elections in Nasirabad, where the PML-N and the PPP are all set for a tough fight against with traditional rivals Khosos and Jamalis vying for the slot, is also a burning issue as Raisani managed to postpone the process twice over law and order issue. The seat fell vacant after the disqualification of Mir Zahoor Hussain Khoso for possessing fake graduation degree.
Mohammad Naeem Khoso of PML-N and Mir Abdur Rahman Jamali, the PPP candidate and the younger of brother former prime minister Mir Zafarullah Jamali, are in the contest. Umrani is said to be trying influencing the chief minister to favour the PPP nominee through ‘administrative support’, but the later is refusing to do so and insist for being impartial.
“Umrani is really getting on his (Raisani) nerves for quite some time by offending the PPP’s allies like PML-Q and JUI-F but the chief minister, who is also a tribal elder, tolerated the whole affair,” sources close Raisani said, adding that Umrani on the night between Monday and Tuesday involved in a scuffle with Gaillu, and also used objectionable remarks against the chief minister.
When contacted, Umrani conceded on phone to this ascribe that he had a scuffle with Gaillu holding him responsible for every thing between him and Chief Minister. He accused Raisani of backing the PML-N in Naseerabad by-poll and working against the PPP interests. Umrani said he had already written a letter to the party high ups to highlight the issue but Raisani removed him fro the cabinet slot in response.
