November 23, 2002	Saturday	Ramazan 17, 1423

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QUETTA, Nov 22: A mixed reaction was witnessed in the province over the election of Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali as the first prime minister from Balo-chistan.

The nationalist parties expressed their reservations and said that it would make no difference for the province as Mr. Jamali would protect the interests of Punjab.

The parliamentary leader of PML-Q in the Balochistan Assembly, Jam Mohammed Yousaf and former chief minister Zulfiqar Ali Magsi termed the election of Mr Jamali as prime minister an “honour” for the province. They were of the view that the election of a PM from Balochistan would help remove the sense of deprivation prevailing among the people of the province.

Former provincial minister Sardar Abdul Rehman Khetran and MPA elect Mir Mohammed Aslam Bhootani were happy over the election of a prime minister from Balochistan.

Mr Khetran urged Mr Jamali to give a five-year remission to the poor prisoners specially those convicted by the NAB.

Sardar Akhtar Mengal, president of the Balochistan National Party (Mengal group), claimed that Jamali’s election as PM was meant to deceive the people of Balochistan and he was apprehensive about the role of Jamali.

He said: “Punjab brought him forward just to secure its own interests.” Mr Jamali would do noting for Balochistan and its people and would only work to save his job, he added.

The deputy secretary general of the Jamiat Ulema Islam, Hafiz Hussain Ahmed, said: “Jamali’s government is weak and powerless and will have to depend on the MQM and the PPP forward bloc, who could at any moment withdraw their support. But our prayers are with him and won’t let him fall.”

PPP provincial president Javed Ahmed alleged that rigging made it possible for him to be elected as an MNA and floor- crossing helped him win the PM election. However, he said, that as he was an elected prime minister and the PPP believed that worst form of democracy was better than the best form of dictatorship, therefore they would help democracy flourish in the country.

Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP) secretary-general Khuda-i-Noor was of the view that Punjab would use Mr Jamali to safeguard its own interests.

The senior deputy chairman of the Pushtoonkhawa Milli Awami Party (PMAP), Abdul Rahim Mandokhel, said that the prime minister from Balochistan was elected to impose military dictatorship, martial law and legal framework order in the country using him.

Parliamentary party leader of the Balochistan National Movement Kachkol Ali Advocate said welcomed the election of Mr Jamali as prime minister and hoped that he would work for the development and prosperity of the province.

ANP provincial president Nawab Abdul Zahir Kasi was of the view that Jamali’s election as PM would make no difference for the province as it would remain deprived of its due rights.