DERA MURAD JAMALI: Rival tribes in centre-west Balochistan are set to enter into a political alliance under the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) for the next general election, sources said on Monday.

A recent meeting of tribal chiefs in the province explored different political options and debated a possible scenario at the Centre following the next elections before they reached the consensus that they should put their weight behind the ruling party.

“All key tribes like Khosa, Jamali, Brohi and Buledi are part of this alliance,” said a senior political leader, citing the decision made at the meeting, which was jointly chaired by former Balochistan Assembly speaker Mir Zahoor Hussain Khan Khosa and former chief minister Mir Jan Muhammad Khan Jamali.

“The meeting was actually called by senior PML-N leader in the province Mir Faiq Ali Khan Jamali at his residence. He succeeded in persuading the tribal chiefs and they all agreed to be part of the PML-N in the next elections. The pros and cons of the new alliance with tribal chiefs on board have yet to be weighed but they all have in principle decided to support PML-N in the 2018 elections.”

According to the sources, Mir Saleem Khan Khosa, Mir Abdul Ghafoor Khan Lehri, Mir Bahram Khan Buledi, Mir Ataullah Khan Buledi and Mir Shaukat Khan Bangalzai attended the meeting.

Published in Dawn, November 29th, 2016