QUETTA: A few days after Balochistan Assembly Speaker Mir Abdul Quddus Bizenjo reportedly threatened to resign over his differences with Chief Minister Mir Jam Kamal Khan Alyani, senior leaders of the ruling Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) in the province have begun efforts to resolve issues within the party.

A meeting between Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani, CM Alyani, Speaker Bizenjo and other leaders of the party on Sunday decided to form a committee to look into the matter.

According to sources, Mr Sanjrani has assured Mr Bizenjo that his reservations will be removed.

Mr Bizenjo, who is former chief minister of Balochistan, reportedly said a few days ago that he was being left out of the decision-making process in the province and that he had decided to resign from his position.

His statement stirred a political controversy in the province, forcing the BAP’s senior leadership to discuss the issue.

The sources said that Mr Sanjrani had made it clear that Speaker Bizenjo would not resign and that the differences between the ruling party’s leaders would be removed through negotiations.

Mr Sanjrani said the speaker would continue to play his role for development of the province.

The sources said the Senate chairman had rejected the impression that there were groups in BAP and said the differences between the party’s leaders were only on working procedure.

He said all leaders of the BAP were committed to development of Balochistan.

They said CM Alyani had also assured Mr Bizenjo that his reservation would be removed.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Mr Bizenjo said Mr Sanjrani would head the committee formed to resolve issues of the ruling party in the province.

He said negotiations would continue and another meeting in this regards would be held within two days.

Mr Bizenjo said that “we are tribal people and our relationship is based on mutual respect”.

The meeting held at the residence of Saeed Hasmi was also attended by Mr Hasmi, Manzoor Kakar and Mir Sarfraz Bugti.

Published in Dawn, November 26th, 2018