ISLAMABAD: Former Senate deputy chairman Jan Muhammad Jamali is likely to become Balochistan’s caretaker chief minister.
Sources privy to Baloch politicians informed Pakistan Today that two names – Jan Muhammad Jamali and Mehmood Khan Achakzai – were under consideration, but Achakzai politely refused the offer because he vowed to contest the upcoming elections.
Meanwhile, Baloch lawmakers have reached a consensus that Jan Muhammad Jamali should be appointed as the caretaker CM. Jamali is known for his wit, wisdom and politeness and is considered a power broker in the province.
The former senator not only enjoys good terms with all political parties in the Centre and the province, but is also acceptable to the country’s establishment.
Earlier, the Baloch MNAs and senators proposed Justice (r) Mir Hazar Khosa’s name for the caretaker CM slot, but his name was included in a list presented by the Centre for the caretaker PM slot.
Talking to Pakistan Today, Senator Hasil Khan Bizenjo confirmed that the Baloch lawmakers had jointly agreed upon the name of Jamali for the caretaker CM slot.
On the other hand, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl head Fazlur Rehman has assured the Pakistan People’s Party, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz that he would introduce a breakthrough in ending a current political turmoil in the province.
Earlier, the former and most controversial chief minister of Balochistan, Aslam Raisani, had hinted that he would not quit, insisting that his provincial government should have been re-instated.
Sources privy to the CM’s House said Raisani had also given an option to the government to appoint his close aide and former provincial minister Ali Madad Jatak as the new CM.
However, other than Balochistan National Party-Awami led by Mir Israrullah Zahri and JUI-F, no other political force, including the provincial leadership of the PPP, was in favour of backing Jatak.
Reportedly, warrants against his fake degree, alleged involvement in terrorism and sectarian killings proved a major hurdle in his path towards grabbing CM slot.
After the JUI-F chief’s stepping into the issue, bright chances are there that the provincial government would be re-instated in coming days and Raisani would resign without making the constitutional issue complex.
