QUETTA: The Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) on Friday elected Jam Kamal Khan Alyani as the party’s parliamentary leader and chose Mir Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo as the candidate for the post of speaker of Balochistan Assembly.

The decision was taken in BAP’s parliamentary party meeting which was presided over by its president Alyani and attended by seven out of 19 MPAs-elect. Party’s founder Saeed Ahmed Hashmi was not present.

Manzoor Ahmed Kakar, secretary general of the party announced the decision in a press conference said that the party had chosen Mr Alyani with full consensus and confidence.

To another question, Mr Kakar replied that the present strength of BAP in the provincial assembly was 19 out of the total strength of 51. However, with the support of ANP, PTI, BNP-Awami and Hazara Democratic Party, the number had reached over 30 which would increase as more MPAs had expressed their desire to support BAP, he said, adding that its doors were open for the BNP-Mangal and the MMA.

Mr Alyani, he said, met Sardar Akhtar Mengal and MMA leaders Maulana Faiz Muhammad and Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri in Islamabad, the other day, while the MMA and BNP-Mengal leadership said that they would take a decision as to whether join hands soon.

Though Mir Jan Muhammad Khan Jamali was also in the run for the speakership he withdrew in favour of Mir Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo, he said.

Mr Bizenjo, a former chief minister, is BAP’s candidate for the post of Balochistan Assembly speaker, Mr Kakar added.

Those present in the press conference were Mir Jan Muhammad Khan Jamali, Sardar Muhammad Saleh Bhootani, Nawabzada Tariq Hussain Magsi, Mir Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo, Senators Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar, Ahmed Khan Khilji and other MPAs-elect.

Mr Kakar in reply to a question rejected a proposal for a two-and-a-half-year power-sharing formula saying that no such thing was under consideration. “We believe in democracy and the next coalition government will be for five-year term,” he said.

In reply to another question, he said that consultation on the nomination of candidates for deputy speaker and ministers was underway and a clear picture would emerge after taking the consent of our allies.

Mr Alyani refuted the propaganda that BAP leadership went to Banigala for the formation of the next government. The visit was to offer unconditional support to the PTI and nothing beyond it, he added.

Speaking in the meeting, Mir Jan Muhammad Khan Jamali said that the party would work for restoration of peace, good governance and resolution of problems being faced by the people.

Published in Dawn, August 4th, 2018