QUETTA: Balochistan Home Minister Mir Sarfaraz Ahmed Bugti said on Friday that a new Balochistan-based political party would be announced in the coming days, which would provide space to all Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) dissidents and tribal elders to contest the upcoming general election from.

Confirming rumours of the emergence of a new political front, Mr Bugti said all the details, including its manifesto and vision, of the new political party would be shared soon by Balochistan Chief Minis­ter Abdul Qudus Bizenjo.

The home minister was speaking to journalists after attending an event held in connection with Pakistan Day celebrations. He said, “It is true that a new political party is in the offing.”

Mr Bugti had played an important role in moving the no-trust motion against former chief minister Nawab Sanaullah Zehri, and rallying together PML-N members who had felt disgruntled with the party. The new political party would be progressive and different from other parties in Balochistan, he said.

Sources close to the dissenting PML-N leaders said that like-minded Muslim Leaguers were likely to join the party, which would be led by former governor and chief minister Nawab Zulfiqar Ali Magsi. The Jamalis would have an important role in the new party, they disclosed.

“All factions of the PML in Balochistan will unite in this new party,” they said, adding that an election alliance with other parties, including the Pakistan Peoples Party and the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam Fazl, would not be ruled out.

Published in Dawn, March 24th, 2018