Sanaullah Zehri nominated next chief minister of Balochistan

E-Paper | March 15, 2026

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif after consulting his allies has nominated provincial president of PML-N Nawab Sanaullah Zehri as the next chief minister of Balochistan.

"Balochistan is close to my heart and I expect he will ensure peace and security. The federal government will extend full support to him in developing Balochistan," a statement issued by the Prime Minister House said.

"We have handed the chief ministership to PML-N as agreed to in the Murree Accord. It is now up to the PML-N to nominate the next chief minister. In the next couple of day Dr Malik Baloch will tender his resignation. With thanks, we are ready to quit the post of the chief executive of Balochistan," president of the National Party, Senator Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo told DawnNews.

Read: Unopposed, Dr Abdul Malik Baloch elected CM Balochistan

Dr Abdul Malik Baloch was elected unopposed to the position of Chief Minister Balochistan in June 2013.

Under the ‘Murree Accord’, Dec 4 this year was supposed to be the last day of Dr Malik Baloch as chief minister, following which a Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) nominee was to take over for the next two-and-a-half years.

Also read: Rocket fired at residence of PML-N's Nawab Zehri

Dialogue with angry Baloch leaders 'top priority'

Speaking to media men via telephone on Thursday, Zehri said that maintaining law and order situation and initiating dialogue with exiled Baloch leaders were his top priorities.

The ruling PML-N nominee for the slot of chief minister said that Nawaz Sharif would be consulted in this regard.

"I have already met Khan of Kalat Mir Suleiman Dawood in London and will also like to carry the talks process with Brahamdagh Bugti forward, " said Zehri.

Nawab Sanaullah Zehri has been targeted in several attacks in the past. His brother, son, and nephew were killed in a powerful blast in Khuzdar district of Balochistan just a month prior to the May 11, 2013 general elections.

Pakistan

Syed Ali Shah is DawnNews' Quetta bureau chief.

He tweets @alishahjourno

Malik’s allotted time as CM over; PM’s decision on successor awaited

‘N’ names Zehri for Balochistan CM post

National Party chief Dr. Malik Baloch nominated as Balochistan CM

Nani_Patekar

Dec 10, 2015 05:01pm

Dr. Malik has been the best CM Baluchistan ever had. I wish Nawab Zehri would have let him continue for another 2.5 years. If that is not possible then he should be brought in to Federal Cabinet and should remain closely associated with Baluchistan's affairs.

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SKZ

Dec 10, 2015 05:17pm

Mr. Clean and a common Man to be replaced by Typical Sardar :( This is Democracy

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Faisal

Dec 10, 2015 05:24pm

Long live Balochistan province of Pakistan.

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Factual

Dec 10, 2015 05:42pm

I liked Dr Abdul Malik. He surely will be missed. I hope he continues to work for Balochistan after his resignation. We thank him for his dedication to his job. Good luck to new CM. Hope he works for everyone in Balochistan. Must rise above party affiliation. Balochistan demands good leadership in these times.

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M.M.Sherazi

Dec 10, 2015 05:47pm

Salute to Dr. Malik he has served in a prudent manner.

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John

Dec 10, 2015 05:56pm

Good decision.... at least good for a large number people in Balochistan...

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Shahid

Dec 10, 2015 06:10pm

Baluchistan needed a stable approach and a consistency in efforts to find a just solution. De-seting of Dr. Malik will wipe out all the advantage which was gained in last two years. I strongly recommend that prime minister Nawaz appoints Dr. Malik as his special envoy on Baluchistan matters and be given a status of federal minister.

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Azhar Malik

Dec 10, 2015 06:26pm

Good for the democracy. Both the parties showing political maturity by following the Muree agreement in letter and spirit. PMLn offering power in Baluchistan to the nationalist although PMLn was in majority and could form the Govt and National Party returning it gracefully. No power hungry politics.

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Yousuf

Dec 10, 2015 06:28pm

There aim is not to serve mass, they are playing musical chair and enjoy the benefits...pooor awam. Baluchistan is forced to remain backward by our political mafia...God Help Pakistan.

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Faisal

Dec 10, 2015 06:35pm

This guy deserves to be CM of balochistan, he lost his brother, nephew and Son for it.

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People of Pakistan

Dec 10, 2015 06:42pm

Again PM acted like Mughal e Azam, PM nominated, now he will say, it's beauty of the democracy that PM can nominate someone as CM, and in this meeting we all can see his brother CM Punjab sitting, the meeting itself looks like, that a head clerk a chairing the meeting, doesn't look an executive's meeting. PM Sahib, there is an Assembly, who has chose a CM, don't nominate, and again this is the very bad part of the Democracy, that all go for elections, and at the end, a fool kind of persons comes in, as party head, and become President of this Nation and now his son is also trying to come and become PM of this Nation. Go to Hell and go for Direct Elections of President, PM, CM, Governors, Mayer etc, then we will know that who has the ability to convince the people of Pakistan on National issues, we want to know the ability on knowledge base NOT on wealth base.

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Tariq Amir

Dec 10, 2015 06:44pm

I think Dr Malik Baloch was doing a good job. I hope the new chief minister will keep him close and take advice to run the province.

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Common man

Dec 10, 2015 06:48pm

Good decision by NS. If he did not fulfill commitment with his own party leader then who will trust him.

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Saeed Masood

Dec 10, 2015 06:53pm

I hope who ever comes he honest and competent...

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M.Saeed

Dec 10, 2015 07:06pm

Baluchistan needs special considerations for peace and development and what was agreed in Meeting at Murree on 4th Dec., has been implemented. Let us hope and pray the new CM performs best to the wishes of the peaceful people of Baluchistan who are a vast majority.

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Freeman

Dec 10, 2015 07:11pm

Feeling sad with Dr. Malik's departure. After a long time I liked a man as CM Baluchistan's. Don't know a lot about Zehri but one thing for sure I know is, he is PMLNer and I yet have to see one good man in PMLN.

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Tahir

Dec 10, 2015 08:19pm

DR Malik a supreme human first and then a politician.a great personality and a sober man.

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Saeed Masood

Dec 10, 2015 08:24pm

Hopefully who ever comes as CM is honest and a real red blooded Pakistani...like Raheel Sharif...

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Fast

Dec 10, 2015 08:24pm

Mr.Zehri seems to be a good replacement. He lost his closer ones in terrorism. I have full confidence on him.

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Fast

Dec 10, 2015 08:25pm

Mr.Zehri seems to be a good replacement. He lost his closer ones in terrorism. I have full confidence on him.

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Shah

Dec 10, 2015 08:43pm

This is how you keep your promise. Salute to Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo, and Dr Malik Baloch. I can see a bright future of Baluchistan.

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Khwarezmi

Dec 10, 2015 08:57pm

Pakistan will develop into nothing as long as the Sardars, Chaudharis and Khans are ruling the country.

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Saeed Masood

Dec 10, 2015 09:06pm

Dr.Malik was a hard core honest and real son of the soil...now we want another like him..

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Sajjad

Dec 10, 2015 09:29pm

Its time that PPP shows the same level of Maturity and Nominates someone from MQM as CM for next 2.5 years.

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Meer

Dec 10, 2015 10:24pm

Iam not a supporter of any of these parties, but to make it clear for the people who think that this step was against democracy or PML-N cheif Nawaz Sharif made a mughal e azam like move, its not true, this was an Accord, and it had to be done, or else, who would belive in such accords in the future if it was not followed? Or how much value would such accords hold if needed in future? In my point of view this is real democracy, every step is taken with mutual understanding between the major parties.

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Hassan Parvez

Dec 10, 2015 10:24pm

If my memory serves me correctly, Zehari is the same member of Parliament, who after the live burial of 4 women in Baluchistan said it is their culture. IF he is the same man, I was surprised and disgusted at most of the comments posted.

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Abbas Syed

Dec 11, 2015 12:31am

It is time affairs of Balochistan are handed over to the real representatives of Balochs not the toddies and cronies of the Pakistan's military establishment. It looks like the military establishment has not learnt any lesson from people's struggle in Pakistan's former province of Bengal.

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Pakistani

Dec 11, 2015 01:03am

@Faisal - then Bilawal should be the President, he lost his mother, grand father, uncles, etc

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Dec 11, 2015 01:09am

I really don't understand what is going on there I thought the current CM was doing a good job...but I guess the sardars and waderas can't see middle class ppl in power

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Anwar Saeed. USA

Dec 11, 2015 02:31am

I regret that Dr. Malik is leaving end of this year and new CM -Nawab Zehri will be take over. I know Sardar Zehri has lots of enemies in Baluchistan. He need to try his best to bring peace with the exile Baluchi leaders. Time will tell his performance in the province.

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Aamir Shahzad

Dec 11, 2015 03:10am

Dr Malik Baloch has earned a great respect being a sincere, honest, dedicated, intelligent, neat and clean person. He is, no doubt, the best CM in Balochistan history. He has initiated many projects having far reaching impacts. It is time to pay him tribute and hope to see Mr. Zehri following the footsteps of his predecessor. He has offered a beautiful role model for this province. He represents the common Baloch and has really worked for the common Baloch. Nation salutes you SIR MALIK BALOCH.

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Aftab Ali Khan

Dec 11, 2015 03:28am

Thank you Dr. Malik. Hope you had continued. But Thank you for your great work and service. You were the best Chief Minister of Baluchistan And one of the best Chief Minister of Pakistan. From Peshawar KPK

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Nasro

Dec 11, 2015 03:58am

This is no time to save accords or bring change, Balochistan is healing and moving in the right direction and Dr. Malik was doing a good job, there is no need of any change.

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