Deadline of the Murree deal, under which Balochistan Chief Minister Abdul Malik Baloch has to step down halfway through his five-year constitutional term to allow a Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) nominee to head the provincial government, expired Friday with no signs of any change in the provincial set up.
As per details, Dr Abdul Malik Baloch is still performing duties as the chief minister due to which differences have emerged between the PML-N leaders in the province.
The deal was signed by the three provincial coalition partners including PML-N, National Party (NP) and Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) under which Dr Abdul Malik Baloch of the National Party was to be replaced by Sardar Sanaullah Zehri or Changez Marri of the PML-N halfway through his tenure.
Reportedly, coalition parties have also left the matter of chief minister’s replacement up to the federal government.
Sources in Quetta and Islamabad say that the federal government would not a take the decision about change of the chief minister in haste due to the role played by Dr Abdul Malik Baloch, a nationalist in helping to improve law and order in Balochistan. Sources say that the establishment is encouraged by the cooperation of Dr Abdul Malik Baloch in dealing with estranged Baloch nationalists that helped in laying down of arms by hundreds of people who had gone in hiding on the hills.
The sources said that the issue is very serious because Dr Baloch is not keen to leave the job while Sardar Sanaullah Zehri, provincial President of PML-N is desperate to become the chief minister, a life time dream of the Baloch leader.
They said it would take some time for the prime minister to take a decision after consultation with his close aides and with the security establishment as it could have far reaching consequences for the country and the PML-N itself as well. If Sanaullah Zehri is not accommodated, he might leave the party in protest along with a few others.