The PPP is rejoicing despite the tectonic shift in political power in Balochistan.
In this mineral-rich province, the JUI-F is likewise seeking power.
After three Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) legislators recently defected to the country’s opposition Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), there is a widespread belief that “winds of change are blowing in Balochistan.”
As the general elections draw closer, electives frequently change their allegiances as they anticipate gaining larger portfolios and posts.
Pakistan is slated to hold elections this year.
This time, the PPP, which is supported in some Balochistani constituencies, is the preferred option. Since its founding in the early 1970s by its founder Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, the party had political roots in Naseerabad, Jaffarabad, Makran, Lasbela, Quetta, and other areas of the province.
Three former provincial ministers from the BAP, including Mir Zahoor Buledi, Saleem Khan Khoso, and Mir Arif Jan Muhammad Hassani, recently joined the PPP in Karachi while Asif Ali Zardari, the PPP co-chairman, was there.
The BAP, which has controlled the province for more than four years, is losing its leaders and staff to opposition political groups.
Political analysts predict that the party may succeed in the 2019 general elections, despite the fact that it did not gain a single seat in the 2018 general elections.
After joining Balochistan’s electables, the PPP “looks to be in a better position,” prominent journalist Muhammad Kazim Mengal told The Express Tribune.
According to sources, Zardari is also in touch with the current chief minister of Balochistan, Mir Quddus Bizenjo, who is also the president of the BAP.
Further claims made included that Jam Kamal Khan, the former chief minister of Balochistan, and the PPP leadership were in talks and that Kamal was “seriously considering” switching to the PML-N.
Jam Kamal’s best option appears to be the PML-N because he may easily become the party’s possible nominee for chief minister in Balochistan.
It should be noted that former Balochistan chief ministers Nawab Sanaullah Zehri and General (ret.) Qadir Baloch have already sided with the PPP after having disagreements with PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif. This came about after the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) stepped up its opposition to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, which was in power at the time (PTI).
The Magsis and Bhootanis, two powerful families in the province, get along well with the PPP, and a breakthrough is anticipated shortly.
An ally of the PPP in the Center, the Jamiat-Ulema-e Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), also modified its approach and began extending its influence from Pashtoon-dominated districts to Baloch-majority areas in Balochistan.
From the 1970s through 2013, the religious party was a part of several governments. Former chief ministers including the late Sardar Attaullah Khan Mengal, Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti, Taj Jamali, Mir Jan Muhammad Jamali, and late Jam Muhammad Yousaf continued to support it.
However, this time, the party adopted a different approach and was successful in winning the support of electables from the province’s Baloch-majority areas.
Former provincial ministers Mir Amanullah Notezai, Ghulam Dastagir Badini, Nawab Aslam Raisani, and Mir Zafarullah Zehri joined the JUI-F in the presence of the party’s leader, Maulana Fazalur Rehman.
The Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party’s recent split is likely to have a significant positive impact on the religious party (PkMAP).
The PkMAP recently broke apart after its expelled dissidents announced and chose the leaders of a new group at a news conference in Quetta.
According to renowned writer Shahid Rind from Quetta, “I think JUI-F would be a big benefactor of this infighting inside PkMAP.”
The success of the Balochistan National Party (Mengal) and National Party in Jhalawan, according to Rind, was also attributed to their collaboration with the local religious parties, particularly Khuzdar.
It was previously mentioned that since the JUI-F did not have a candidate for the position of chief minister, it would simply demand appealing ministries in every coalition administration.
The party is now trying to establish the next Balochistani government.
Sardar Yar Muhammad Rind, the PTI’s parliamentary leader in the Balochistan Assembly, left the organisation last year as well.
According to sources, he is currently negotiating for a better choice with a number of political parties.
