QUETTA: President of the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) Jam Kamal Khan Alyani has said that the party will decide about the leader of the house on Friday (today).

Speaking at a press conference at the residence of Sardar Abdul Rehman Khetran, he said the parliamentary party of the BAP would meet on Friday to decide about the parliamentary leader, speaker and deputy speaker.

Read: Balochistan Awami Party emerges as largest parliamentary party in Balochistan

While Sardar Khetran originally belonged to the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl, he contested the general election as an independent candidate and after emerging victorious, he annou­nced joining the BAP.

With the joining of Sardar Khetran, the BAP’s strength reached 19 and the support of the PTI, ANP, BNP-Awami and HDP made it stand at 31.

Secretary General of BAP Manzoor Ahmed Kakar, Sen­­­ator Anwarul Haq Kakar and other party leaders were also present on the occasion.

Mr Alyani denied any differences or a deadlock in the party on the issue of appointing parliamentary leader. He said that decision regarding nomination of chief minister, speaker, deputy speaker and other offices would be taken with the consent of party members and allies who had joined hands with the BAP for the formation of the next coalition government in the province.

Decisions on the issues of Balochistan would be taken in the province as BAP was firm on its stance that the party would not accept decision from Raiwind, Banigala or Lahore anymore, he said, adding that giving an impression about differences in the party over chief minister and other issues was wrong.

He said in reply to a question that BAP leadership had met the leaders of all political parties, including Imran Khan, Sardar Akhtar Mengal, ANP, BNP-Awami and MMA and held talks for the formation of a coalition government.

He said that he met Sardar Mengal and MMA leaders in Islamabad and was now waiting for their decision about joining the government or sitting in the opposition.

In reply to a question, Mr Alyani said that ANP senior leader Ilyas Bilour had confirmed his party’s support for BAP.

Welcoming Sardar Khetran’s joining BAP, he said it was the third generation of Khetran and Jam families of joining hands with each other.

Published in Dawn, August 3rd, 2018