Political Turmoil in Balochistan as    ProvincialAssemblies Dissolved



In a whirlwind of political developments, the landscape of Balochistan's governance is undergoing significant changes. All four provincial assemblies have been dissolved, sparking a wave of uncertainty and negotiations for a caretaker chief minister.

The wheels were set in motion when Balochistan Governor Malik Abdul Wali Khan Kakar signed a summary to dissolve the provincial legislature. The summary had been sent by outgoing Chief Minister Mir Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo and was officially approved on a recent Saturday, as indicated by a notification from the Governor House.

This move followed closely after the Sindh governor also signed a summary to dissolve the Sindh assembly, while the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assemblies had been dissolved earlier in the year.

The Balochistan assembly's dissolution on August 12 marked the conclusion of its five-year constitutional term. Its inception traces back to August 13, 2018, when elected members took their oaths and began their legislative journey.

Despite the end of the assembly's term and the disbanding of his cabinet, Mr. Abdul Qudoos Bizenjowill continue to serve as Balochistan's Chief Minister until a caretaker successor is appointed. This transitional phase has also given rise to the intriguing dynamics of selecting a caretaker chief minister.

Mr. Bizenjo's efforts to keep the assembly "intact" until the eleventh hour were evident. While rumors circulated about the outgoing cabinet's final meeting, none took place. Instead, the Chief Minister promptly advised the assembly's dissolution in the early hours of the morning.

However, the absence of a consensus on the name of the caretaker chief minister has further complicated matters. Despite numerous meetings between CM Bizenjo and the opposition leader, agreement remains elusive.

Opposition parties, having anticipated this juncture, had already proposed candidates for the caretaker CM position. The Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), which spearheaded a six-party coalition government for half a decade, has tabled the names of its favored candidates.

Interestingly, Mr. Bizenjo's preference for a BAP leader to fill the caretaker CM slot has sparked attempts to convince opposition leader Malik Sikandar Khan. The tug-of-war centers around the name of Mir Naseer Bizenjo, the former district council chairman of Awaran, Mr. Bizenjo's native district.

On the other side, the opposition's contender is Usman Badini, a former MNA from Balochistan, poisedto take the helm.

Intriguingly, other political players have entered the scene. The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) and Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-Mengal) have engaged in negotiations for a joint candidate, but a conclusive decision remains pending.

Meanwhile, Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani's desire to see his younger brother, Ejaz Sanjrani, assume the caretaker CM role adds another layer of complexity. Mir Hammal Kalmati, a name circulating as a potential candidate, hails from the last assembly in Gawadar and has experience as the province's fisheries minister.

Other figures, including Senator Kahuda Babar Baloch of BAP and Mir Naveed Kalmati, a Gwadar businessman, are also being discussed.

Against this backdrop, the future remains uncertain. A meeting between the chief minister and the opposition leader was expected, but political observers dismiss the likelihood of an agreement. Many believe that the matter could eventually find its way to a parliamentary committee or, in the event of continued deadlock, to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

As Balochistan navigates these intricate waters, its political landscape is in flux, with questions surrounding its leadership and future trajectory awaiting resolution.


Political Upheaval Continues: Balochistan's Quest for a Caretaker Chief Minister


The political landscape in Balochistan continues to undergo seismic shifts as the province grapples with the dissolution of all four provincial assemblies. This move has not only created a vacuum in governance but has also ignited a fierce battle to determine the province's caretaker chief minister.

As the echoes of Governor Malik Abdul Wali Khan Kakar's signature on the summary to dissolve the provincial legislature reverberated, a whirlwind of negotiations and maneuvers unfolded. This pivotal decision followed suit after the Sindh governor had already inked a similar fate for the Sindh assembly. Notably, the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assemblies had experienced their own dissolutions earlier in the year, setting the stage for a broader political transformation.

In Balochistan, the curtain fell on the provincial assembly on August 12, symbolizing the culmination of its five-year constitutional mandate. Cast in the shadow of this event was the assembly's inaugural session on August 13, 2018, when newly elected members took their solemn oaths.

While the tenure of the assembly has formally ended and the Chief Minister's cabinet has been disbanded, Mr. Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo retains his role as Balochistan's Chief Minister. His continued presence underscores the delicate transition underway until a suitable caretaker successor is identified.

This shift in leadership has laid bare the intricate dance of selecting a caretaker chief minister, a process that has proven far from straightforward. Despite numerous dialogues between Chief Minister Bizenjo and the opposition leader, an agreeable candidate remains elusive.

The foresight of opposition parties was evident as they swiftly put forward contenders for the coveted caretaker CM position. Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), the party that spearheaded the province's six-party coalition government for a significant period, has presented a roster of preferred candidates.

Intriguingly, Mr. Bizenjo's inclination toward a BAP representative as caretaker CM has set off a concerted effort to win over the opposition leader, Malik Sikandar Khan. The heart of the matter lies in the name of Mir Naseer Bizenjo, the former district council chairman of Awaran, Mr. Bizenjo's hometown.

Counteracting this proposition is the opposition's nominee, Usman Badini, a former Member of the National Assembly (MNA) from Balochistan, poised to take the helm of caretaker leadership.

However, the political tableau grows more intricate as additional players enter the fray. The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) and Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-Mengal) have engaged in intricate discussions over the possibility of a joint candidate. Yet, as the talks unfold, a decisive outcome remains tantalizingly out of reach.

Meanwhile, the desires of Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani to see his brother, Ejaz Sanjrani, assume the mantle of caretaker CM inject yet another dimension of complexity into the situation. Mir Hammal Kalmati's name also swirls around as a potential contender, with his roots in the last assembly of Gawadar and his past role as the province's fisheries minister.

The list of potential candidates extends further, featuring figures such as Senator Kahuda Babar Baloch of BAP and Mir Naveed Kalmati, a Gwadar-based businessman. Their presence in the discussion hints at the depth of considerations underlying the quest for a caretaker chief minister.

As this political tapestry unravels, one anticipated event remains: a meeting between the chief minister and the opposition leader, slated for Sunday. However, seasoned political observers cast doubt on the feasibility of an agreement between the two leaders. The consensus seems to be that the matter will eventually find its way to a parliamentary committee or, in the face of continued deadlock, be referred to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

Balochistan's political journey is in a state of flux, characterized by intrigue, maneuvering, and uncertainty. As the province navigates these uncharted waters, the final destination and the leadership that will guide it there remain shrouded in the haze of the unknown.