Syed Ali Shah Analysis:
QUETTA: Balochistan has recently been in the national limelight following the visits of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the Chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. Asif Ali Zardari, a key decision-maker for the PPP, and Maryam Nawaz Sharif, a future leader of the Pakistan Muslim League (N), also visited Quetta, holding selective meetings to garner support for the upcoming general elections.
Bilawal Spent Three Days In Quetta
Nawaz conducted himself as if he were an elected prime minister, engaging in meetings with key political leaders from the former ruling party, the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), National Party (NP), Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party (PKMAP), and Jamiat ul Ulema e Islam (F) to discuss the fast-approaching polls in the country.
Nawaz’s Meetings With Politicians From Balochistan Indicate Future Alliances
In contrast, Bilawal and Zardari focused primarily on PPP leaders and supporters. For the first time in his political career, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari spent three days in Quetta, holding a series of meetings with party supporters and leaders.
Despite challenges, Bilawal visited Sirki Road in Quetta, the most congested and marginalized area, to participate in a dinner hosted by Rozi Khan Kakar, the former senator and the party’s secretary-general for Balochistan, in his honor.
Furthermore, Nawaz, Maryam, and Shehbaz chose to stay in the only luxury hotel in Quetta to meet with party leaders and supporters.
Nawaz and Maryam Made Significant Progress
Regarding political gains, Nawaz and Maryam made significant progress, securing the support of over a dozen electables. This seemed to be a major setback for the PPP, which had been focusing on electables for the past few years.
Since the BAP was a challenging project from day one, the two mainstream political parties of the country consistently aimed to gain the support of lawmakers from BAP.
The PPP succeeded in gaining the support of Mir Quddus Bizenjo, who had no option other than to join the party after the former Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan joined the PML-N. Sardar Domki also joined the PPP. However, no significant electable or politician from Balochistan joined the party.
