- Balochistan CM to announce party’s spokesmen and council tomorrow
- Bizenjo, other members quit PML-Q
ISLAMABAD: The launching of a new political party in Balochistan has been postponed until tomorrow as differences between the members have erupted over who will lead the party, Pakistan Today has learnt reliably.
The leaders of the independent group in the Senate had announced to launch the new party in Quetta on Wednesday but did not do so over some reported leadership disputes. Now, after failing to reach a consensus on the new party’s leadership, the launching has been delayed till Thursday.
A well-placed source informed Pakistan Today that Senator Anwarul Haq Kakar is set to be appointed as central spokesman for the party while Shoaib Nosherwani would be announced as Balochistan spokesman. Moreover, Balochistan Chief Minister (CM) Abdul Quddus Bizenjo would also announce a national council of the party which would later elect the new president and other office bearers, the source added.
On the name of the party, the source said that several names were being deliberated and among those were United Muslim League, Balochistan Awami Party and Balochistan Progressive Party etc. “We will take a final decision soon,” he added.
Another party lawmaker, however, said that it was not the first time that the party’s launching plan had hit snags.
“The group had initially decided to launch the new party with the name of United Muslim League. However, due to ongoing consultations within the group members, the launching was delayed for March 25 and later, due to disagreement among the group members, the launching was fixed for March 28, which was delayed again,” the new party’s leader said.
When asked to put light on the reason for the delay, he said that initially, the group had asked Nawab Zulfiqar Magsi to lead the new party, who accepted the slot, but after some group members disagreed to the proposal, Magsi asked to nominate someone else to lead for better harmony and understanding among the members.
“Nawaz Magsi was the first to advise the group to create its own identity after phenomenal success in Senate elections and the formation of Balochistan government,” he added.
The source said that some new entrants are likely to join the new group as the party leaders have extended invitations to many bigwigs of the province.
“Nawab of Lasbela Jam Kamal Khan has also agreed to join the new party and he has agreed to part ways with the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). This would give a big boost to the party’s prospects,” the party leader said.
The source further said that Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leader Jaffer Mandokhel and Jan Mohammad Jamali want Jam Kamal Khan to head the new party, who will arrive soon in Quetta.
Moreover, the new party would also include Mir Khalid Lango of National Party and Manzoor Kakar from Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP), besides the disgruntled groups of PML-N and PML-Q.
“For now, Zulfiqar Magsi, Jam Kamal Khan and Jan Mohammad Jamali are the main contenders for the top slot of the new party,” the source said.
It merits mention here that Balochistan Home Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti had announced last week that CM Quddus Bizenjo will announce the formation of the new political party within a day or two. Bugti had told the media that he along with Bizenjo would form a new party that would be different from traditional political parties.
Mir Abdul Quddus Bizenjo hailed from PML-Q of Chaudhry Shujaat and together with Sarfaraz Bugti, he was an ally in the PML-N led coalition government in the province. Later, he parted ways with his predecessor Sanaullah Zehri and managed to cobble together a new ruling coalition in which Bizenjo was elected chief minister and he appointed Sarfaraz Bugti as home minister.
Bugti had said that people of Balochistan adore Pakistan and they were hoisting the national flag in every nook and corner of the province.
The Bizenjo-Bugti group has emerged as a powerful political force as they also got Sadiq Sanjrani elected as Senate chairman with the support of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI).
Earlier, CM Bizenjo and other provincial members quit PML-Q after meeting with PML-Q’s head Chaudhry Shujat in Islamabad. The chief minister said that he had no dispute with the party, however, a new political party was being launched in the province.
Chaudhry Pervaiz said on the occasion that the party’s relationship with Balochistan was strong and everyone had to work together for Pakistan.