In an attempt to not upset potential coalition partners in Balochistan including Jamiat-e-Ulema-e-Islam-Fazal (JUI-F) and Balochistan National Party-Awami (BNP-A), the Awami National Party (ANP) on Monday demanded its federal coalition partner Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) to end the governor’s rule in Balochistan.
Informed sources told Pakistan Today that ANP was under immense pressure from the JUI-F and BNP-A led by Mir Israrullah Zahri to join their movement to restore the recently removed provincial assembly.
JUI-F not only enjoys a strong presence in the Pushtun belt of Balochistan but also in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, whereas BNP-A is also a political force in both, the Pushtun and Baloch belts of the province, which played an important factor in ANP’s decision who do not want to get isolated in Balochistan during the upcoming polls. Another source said Senator Daud Khan Achakzai also participated actively in the recent decision because his wife was not only a member of the disbanded provincial assembly but was also an advisor to the chief minister on local government and rural development. ANP members of Balochistan Assembly namely Engineer Zamarak Khan and Sultan Mohammad Tareen who were also provincial ministers pressurised their leadership to take this stance according to sources. ANP’s strategy in Balochistan apparently is to get the suspended provincial assembly restored and strengthen their position for the upcoming polls with special focus on the Pushtun belt in the province.
Meanwhile, ANP’s demand puts PPP in an awkward position which has not been able to come up with a suitable replacement for Nawab Aslam Raisani for Balochistan chief minister (CM) if the assembly is restored. Ali Madad Jattak-also supported by Faryal Talpur-was desirous to replace Raisani as the new CM but had strong differences with the powerful PPP Balochistan leader Mir Sadiq Umrani who issued a notice to Jattak for violating party discipline. JUI-F also has its eyes set on the top executive position in the province, which the PPP is unwilling to give up. Talking to journalists outside the Parliament House, ANP senior leader Senator Afrasiab Khattak flanked by ANP Central Information Secretary Senator Zahid Khan and Senator Daud Khan Achakzai demanded that the provincial assembly be given its constitutional right to decide about the future of the province.
