QUETTA: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif failed to convince coalition partners in the Balochistan government to bring forth a united candidate for mayor of Quetta city.

Nawaz chaired a meeting of parliamentary parties from Balochistan to develop consensus among the coalition partners regarding nomination of a candidate for Quetta mayor. The final phase of local bodies’ elections in the province is scheduled to be held on January 28.

Provincial Chief Minister Dr Malik Baloch, Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai, Senator Hasil Bizenjo, Balochistan PML-N President Nawab Sanaullah Zehri and Nawabzada Lashkari were also present in the meeting.

“We have majority, people voted for our candidates in Quetta city,” Achakzai said, arguing that the number of PkMAP and allies' councilors was 49, forming the majority needed to select a mayor.

Nawab Sanaullah Zehri and Nawabzada Lashkari urged the prime minister to consider a candidate from PML-N for the mayor slot, arguing that PkMAP and the National Party had already been given offices of chief minister and governor in the province.

On condition of anonymity, a PML-N provincial minister told Dawn that the coalition partners in the Balochistan government were not comfortable in running the provincial affairs.

“When a minority is imposed on the majority then there would always be a problem,” he said.

It has been reliably learnt that the meeting was concluded without any positive development.