QUETTA, Feb 29: Pakistan Muslim League-Q which has emerged as the largest single party in the Balochistan assembly is facing problems in nominating the leader of its parliamentary party. The differences in the party have forced PML’s president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain to intervene in the matter.
All other parties have elected their parliamentary leaders and are engaged in negotiations for forming the government in Balochistan.
According to PML-Q sources, Chaudhry Shujaat is expected to arrive here on Saturday to help the party find a consensus leader.
Four candidates are in the run for the post — former chief minister Jam Mir Mohammad Yousuf, Yar Mohammad Rind, Sheikh Jaffar Khan Mandokhel and Mir Mohammad Asim Kurd. Another strong candidate for the post, Zulfiqar Ali Magsi, has been appointed governor of the province.
A committee formed by the PML-Q for talks with other parties and independents in the province is facing problems in the absence of a designated parliamentary leader.
The sources, however, believe that Chaudhry Shujaat’s intervention may complicate the situation because some of the party’s elected members have said that they would not accept anyone imposed by the high command.
“Formation of a forward bloc in the party cannot be ruled out in this situation,” an MPA-elect told Dawn, adding that the PPP’s high command was already in contact with some of the PML-Q’s elected legislators.
Chaudhry Shujaat and PML-Q’s secretary-general Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed have already held a meeting with provincial president of JUI-F Maulana Mohammad Khan Sherani and Maulana Abdul Wasay to discuss government formation in the province.
The sources said that JUI-F’s leadership had told them that they were in no position to make any commitment.
Maulana Wasay said that PML-Q should first elect its parliamentary leader.
Meanwhile, a group of eight independents led by Mohammad Aslam Bizenjo held a meeting with the parliamentary leader of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Mohammad Aslam Raisani. The group informed Mr Raisani about their stand on issues of Balochistan.
Independent MPA Agha Irfan Karim, it may be mentioned, has already joined the PPP, increasing the party’s strength in the assembly to eight.
The sources said that more independents had shown interest in joining the PPP. They said that Sheikh Jaffar Khan Mandokhel had also held a meeting with Mr Raisani along with Mir Asim Kurd on Thursday night.
“Our negotiations are under way with different parties, groups and independent members on government (formation) issue,” Mr Raisani told Dawn, adding that talks held between JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari in the federal capital were positive and fruitful.
