QUETTA: The president of the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) has vowed to turn the industrial town of Hub into a model city if he comes to power after the 2018 general elections.

Discussing the dilapidated state of the area on Wednesday, Jam Kamal Khan Alyani said that Hub had generated huge revenues for Balochistan yet it lacked proper infrastructure.

Talking to media personnel after the scrutiny of his nomination papers for NA-272 (Lasbela-Gwadar), he said that whoever came into power after the 2018 polls should focus on the province’s industrial cities — Hub, Zhob and Pishin.

He added that these cities should be turned into ideal places with all necessary facilities for the residents.

Commenting on BAP’s popularity in the province, Mr Alyani said that they had turned into a major political force in Balochistan as veteran tribal elders and politicians had joined the party.

“While there are weaknesses in all political parties, but as president of BAP I have tried to get rid of them before the general elections,” he said, adding that if they won and were in a position to form a government, they would form a coalition with a few political parties.

“Our primary mission is to make Balochistan independent — to take our own decisions. We want supremacy of the law in our province because despite having natural resources here we are often excluded from decisions taken at the centre,” he said.

Replying to a question regarding his political relations with the Bhootanis, BAP’s president said that before forming the party they had made a political alliance with Sardar Salah Bhootani.

“Former speaker Aslam Bhootani has submitted his nomination papers from Lasbela, but I am optimistic that he will take a good decision after a discussion with his elder brother,” he said.

Published in Dawn, June 14th, 2018