QUETTA: The acting Speaker of the Balochistan Assembly, Mir Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo, was sworn in as acting governor of the province on Thursday.

Balochistan High Court Chief Justice Muhammad Noor Miskanzai administrated the oath to Mr Bizenjo at a ceremony held at the Governor’s House.

Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch, provincial ministers, Chief Secretary Saifullah Chattah and other senior officers attended the ceremony.

Also read: Opposition lawmakers see constitutional crisis in Balochistan

It was the second time in the history of Balochistan that an acting speaker has been appointed as acting governor.

Speaker Balochistan Assembly Mir Jan Muhammad Khan Jamali left for Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah on May 16 and Governor Muhammad Khan Achakzai left for London the next day.

The post of the constitutional head of the province remained vacant for four days as the authorities concerned appointed Mr Jamali as acting governor, despite the fact that he is in Saudi Arabia. The situation created a constitutional crisis and lawmakers in the Balochistan Assembly raised the issue on the floor of the house.

The secretary of the assembly had not notified Deputy Speaker Bizenjo’s appointment as acting speaker. However, after the matter was raised by opposition members Sardar Abdul Rehman Khetran and Shahida Rauf, the assembly secretary issued the notification about the appointment of acting speaker.

On Thursday morning, the authorities concerned notified acting Speaker Bizenjo as acting governor.

Published in Dawn, May 22nd, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play