Islamabad, August 15, 2023 – A crucial meeting held between Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Abdul Quddus Bizenjo and Leader of the Opposition Malik Sikandar Khan came to an inconclusive end on Monday night. The meeting, aimed at finalizing the appointment of an interim Chief Minister for the province, concluded without reaching a consensus on a suitable candidate. The decision-making deadline for the interim Chief Minister post in Balochistan is today (Tuesday).
The meeting followed the recent dissolution of the Balochistan provincial assembly on August 12, which automatically led to the dissolution of the provincial cabinet. Despite the dissolution, Chief Minister Bizenjo remains in office until a caretaker Chief Minister is appointed.
Sources familiar with the matter revealed that during the meeting, Opposition Leader Sikandar proposed the name of former lawmaker Engineer Mohammad Usman Badini for the role of interim Chief Minister. However, the government representatives did not agree to this suggestion, leading to a deadlock in the discussions. As a result, the meeting concluded without any concrete outcome.
It is reported that the opposition leader expressed hope for another meeting with Chief Minister Bizenjo on Tuesday morning, in the expectation of finalizing a candidate’s name for the interim Chief Minister post. Meanwhile, a consultative session involving leaders of the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) extended late into Monday night.
In a related development, the province of Sindh has made progress in appointing an interim Chief Minister. Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and Opposition Leader Rana Ansar of the Mutahidda Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) have jointly agreed upon the nomination of Justice (retd) Maqbool Baqar for the role. Justice (retd) Baqar previously held the position of a senior judge at the Supreme Court of Pakistan and served as the Sindh High Court chief justice until February 17, 2015. He is scheduled to be sworn in as the interim Chief Minister on August 16.
As the clock ticks toward the deadline, all eyes are on Balochistan as political leaders strive to reach a consensus on the interim Chief Minister, ensuring smooth governance during this transitional period.
