QUETTA: A row has erupted among members of the Balochistan coalition over the office of mayor of Quetta, with both the nationalists and the group led by PML-N eyeing the coveted slot and claiming majority in the electoral college.

Even a meeting presided over by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in Islamabad on Friday could not settle the dispute and ended without reaching a decision before the PM’s departure to Saudi Arabia to attend the funeral of King Abdullah.

The prime minister had convened the meeting of the three coalition partners on the issue of Quetta mayor, to be elected on January 28.

Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch, National Party (NP) President Mir Hasil Bizenjo, Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai, senior minister and provincial president of the PML-N Sardar Sanaullah Zehri, Nawabzada Lashkari Raisani, the Leader of House in the Senate, Raja Zafarul Haq, federal Information Minister Pervez Rashid, Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique and Minister for States and Frontier Regions Abdul Qadir Baloch attended the meeting.

Sources said that both the PkMAP and the Sanaullah Zehri-led group presented their stance on the issue.

Mr Achakzai said that since councillors belonging to his PkMAP were in majority in the Quetta Municipal Corporation (QMC), the office of the mayor should go to the party.

But Mr Zehri and Mr Raisani also claimed that their group enjoyed majority in the QMC.

A participant of the meeting said the PML-N’s provincial leadership told the prime minister that despite having majority in the Balochistan Assembly, the party had given the post of chief minister to the NP and that of governor to the PkMAP. All major ministries had also been given to the PkMAP and the NP and the PML-N had extended support to the two parties in the formation of the coalition government.

They insisted that after sacrificing the top slots and important ministries, the PML-N had a right to the office of Quetta mayor.

Mr Zehri said they were not happy with the chief minister and his government over several issues.

Mr Achakzai informed the prime minister that his party also enjoyed support of the NP and many independent councillors.

The PML-N has the backing of all opposition parties who have formed an alliance to contest the election for the said post. They are demanding of the NP and the PkMAP to support their candidates for the offices of mayor and deputy mayor.

Sources said the meeting failed to evolve a consensus among the three coalition partners as PML-N and its allies were not ready to surrender the office.

A follow-up meeting is likely to be convened on Saturday, after the prime minister’s return from Saudi Arabia.

Published in Dawn January 24th , 2015

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