Will Jam Kamal be able to save his sinking boat?
Syed Ali Shah :
Hitherto, Chief Minister Balochistan, Jam Kamal Khan has been able to resist the mounting pressure of angry Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) lawmakers. Temporarily, the dust is likely to settle as some important transfer and postings made by the government on the demand of angry members in the provincial bureaucracy.
Legislators from Mekran and Naseerabad are at the forefront against the incumbent chief executive of the province.
Officers transferred on the demand of angry members
The Balochistan government on Saturday transferred Secretary Agriculture, Qambar Dashti on the demand of one of the angry members from Mekran. Similarly, Tariq ur Rehman (B-19) was posted as the Director-General Fisheries and Deputy Commissioner Surab was also transferred. Separate notifications were issued in this regard. “This all happened on the demand of angry BAP members”, a well-placed source in the Chief Minister’s Secretariat told Quetta Voice.
Three days on, the Chairman of Senate Sadiq Sanjrani and others are yet to make a breakthrough in terms of reconciliation between the CM and over a dozen legislators. The angry members are yet to bring a consensus candidate replacing Jam Kamal as parliamentary leader and leader of the house so far.
Differences erupted within the BAP after 16 opposition members submitted a no-confidence motion against CM Jam Kamal on September 16.
Opposition legislators also put their heads together
Opposition legislators also held consultative meetings to make sure success of the motion. They also met the angry BAP members to seek their support.
The political battle was within the ruling Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) rather than against the opposition parties. Amid rumors of CM’s resignation, close aides of Jam Kamal announced victory. However, deadlock exists as the angry members refused to end the protest.
“Angry members reservations would be addressed”, sources close to the CM said. The reconciliatory committee has given three months’ time to the incumbent CM to address the grievances of disgruntled lawmakers, they claimed. Although, the disgruntled members rejected all claims and announced to continue their protest.
Chairman Senate held a series of meetings
Chairman Senate, Sadiq Sanjrani, Senator Sarfaraz Bugti, Senator Manzoor Kakar, and others held a series of meetings with angry members and CM Balochistan to end the deadlock. The angry members also threatened to tender resignations in the case Jam Kamal remains CM of Balochistan. Although, no formal announcement was made in this regard.
BAP angry members overtly oppose Jam Kamal
BAP ministers Mir Zahoor Buledi, Sardar Abdul Rehman Khetran, Muhammad Khan Lehri, Bushra Rind, Sikandar Umrani, and others overtly opposed Jam Kamal and demanded his replacement.
However, the BAP ministers including Saleem Khoso, Mir Ziaullah Langove, Arif Jan Muhammad Hassani stood by the CM during the political battle.
This hide-and-seek within the ruling party is nothing new. Sardar Saleh Bhootani, Qudoos Bizenjo, Zahoor Buledi have been expressing reservations regarding the chief executive of the province. However, this time the number of CM’s opponents increased, and the protest prolonged.
