QUETTA, May 16: National Party chief Dr Abdul Malik Baloch has suggested to PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif to opt for a consensus chief minister in Balochistan in view of the sensitive political situation prevailing in the province.

Speaking at a press conference along with NP’s secretary general Tahir Bizenjo and MNA-elect Sardar Kamal Khan Bangulzai here on Thursday, he complained about rigging in the provincial assembly’s constituency PB-50, Kech-III.

“Nomination of a candidate for the post of chief minister is a very important issue and Mr Sharif should take a decision in this regard very carefully,” Dr Baloch said.

He said it was up to the PML-N chief whether he wanted his party’s nominee or a consensus candidate for the post.

He said the central committee of the National Party would decide on Sunday whether to join the government or stay out of it.

However, he said, the NP party had an understanding with the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party and it was his desire that both of them and the PML-N should form a coalition government in the province.

“My party will join the government with dignity,” he said, adding that it was now the responsibility of Mr Sharif to form a coalition government along with the 'genuine leaders’ of Balochistan.

Dr Baloch said his party was holding negotiations with various parties for the formation of a coalition and he along with other NP leaders had already held meetings with PkMAP chairman Mahmood Khan Achakzai on the issue. Dr Baloch said a meeting had also been held with PML-N’s provincial chief Sardar Sanaullah Zehri.

Referring to the election result of PB-50, he alleged that rigging had been committed there under a conspiracy to defeat the NP candidate who was winning with majority. “Our candidate Akram Baloch obtained 1,331 votes, the Balochistan National Party-M’s Qasim Baloch 869 and PML-N’s Akbar Askani 56,” he said.

He alleged that extra votes had been shown in the result in favour of the PML-N candidate from two polling stations in Mand and Tump where polling had not been conducted on May 11 because of absence of the election staff.

He alleged that Mr Askani had been declared winner through ‘pre-planned rigging’. He demanded re-polling at the two polling stations.