QUETTA: Mohammad Aslam Bhutani, a member of the National Assembly and former speaker of the Balochistan Assembly, has welcomed the recent change of government in Balochistan and said that with the end of the government of Jam Kamal Khan Alyani “a dark night in the province is now over”.

He was talking to reporters on Sunday.

Mr Bhutani, who defeated former chief minister Alyani in the election for NA-272 (Lasbela-cum-Gwadar) in 2018 and received the highest votes in the province, criticised the performance of the previous provincial government. He said the Alyani government had failed to solve the problems of the people and did not give any relief to them.

He alleged that the Alyani-led government had closed the door of employment on the people of Lasbela and Gwadar districts. All development schemes in the districts were stopped and government officials were being targeted, he added.

He welcomed the formation of a new government in the province and termed it a “beautiful morning”. He said the new chief minister, Mir Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo, “is not a Sardar or Nawab… he belongs to the middle class and can feel the pain of the poor”.

Mr Bhutani said the people of the province had great expectations with the new government. He hoped the government of CM Bizenjo would be successful in solving problems and bring some positive changes in the province.

According to him, Zahoor Buledi is the acting president of the Balochistan Awami Party till an election is held for the party president. Mr Buledi, he added, had good relations with ordinary workers of the party.

Published in Dawn, November 1st, 2021