QUETTA: Political leaders in Balochistan advised the newly-nominated chief minister, Nawab Sanaullah Zehri of the PML-N, to take all political forces into confidence on policies concerning the province, and underlined the need to accelerate the pace of reconciliation to ensure swift and sustainable peace in the insurgency-hit province.

"A change of face is not enough," remarked Agha Hassan Baloch, the central secretary information of the Balochistan National Party (Mengal). "Policies will resolve Balochistan's issues."

Balochistan has been under the grip of violent attacks by Baloch insurgents and Sunni militant groups for more than a decade. Scores of civilians and security personnel have been killed during violent attacks.

Zehri himself has been targeted by insurgent attacks in the past.

"The new CM has to work hard to maintain the law and order situation," said Khaliq Hazara, president of the Hazara Democratic Party (HDP).

The previous government led by Dr Malik Baloch had initiated dialogue with Baloch leaders, and met the Khan of Kalat Mir Suleman Dawood and Brahmdagh Bugti to discuss political solutions.

"Nawab Zehri will have to continue the policy of reconciliation," said Haji Nizamuddin Kakar, the general secretary of Awami National Party (ANP) in Balochistan.

Nawab Zehri has vowed to carry on the process and bring an end to the ongoing unrest.

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

Malik Sikandar Advocate, the provincial secretary general of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (F), agrees with Zehri's approach. "Balochistan's issues need to be resolved through dialogue," he said.

Mainstream, nationalist and religious political parties see the Murree Accord – under which Dr Baloch's term expired on Dec 4 – as a largely good omen, and are counting on Zehri to translate his words into actions.

But the Jamaat-i-Islami Balochistan chief, Abdul Haq Hashmi, urged the newly-nominated CM to also focus his government's efforts on improving governance.

"Improving social indicators is another challenge for the government, in addition to law and order," Hashmi said.

The resource-rich province lags behind the rest of the country in matters of health, education and access.

"The previous government, led by Dr Malik Baloch, failed to introduce adequate presence of teachers and doctors across the province," observed Kakar, the ANP leader.

Various political leaders also emphasised the need for Zehri to take all parties under his confidence.

"We hope that the new Chief Minister will ensure transparency," commented Mir Sadiq Umrani, the president of Pakistan Peoples Party in Balochistan.

Murree Accord

The May 2013 general elections resulted in a three-party coalition in Balochistan. The coalition signed the Murree Accord, under which the provincial chief minister's five-year term would be shared between the National Party and a PML-N nominee.

The coalition unanimously nominated Dr Baloch for the first term, the first time a middle-class Baloch nationalist leader was appointed to the position.

After Baloch completed his two-and-a-half-year term as CM on Dec 4, the National Party handed the slot over to the ruling PML-N.