Islamabad: Pakistan’ southwestern Balochistan province is to have a new chief minister from the party of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
Nawab Sanullah Zehri was nominated on Thursday for the chief minister’s slot by the prime minister, after a consultative meeting attended by political allies.
He is president of the Balochistan wing of the federal ruling party, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
Zehri will replace Dr Malek Baloch, who had been elected chief minister in 2013 under an accord among political parties in the province for a fixed term that expired on December 4.
“Balochistan is close to my heart and I expect he [Zehri] will ensure peace and security. The federal government will extend full support to him in developing Balochistan,” a statement issued by Prime Minister House said.
Dr Malek, who belongs to the National Party, will step down in the days ahead and the new chief minister is expected to be elected by the provincial assembly.
The outgoing chief minister has tried to engage in a peace dialogue with ethnic Baloch militant groups involved in a long-running separatist insurgency in Balochistan, apparently without achieving a breakthrough.
However, during his tenure, hundreds of insurgents laid down arms, renounced violence and pledged to live as law-abiding citizens, according to provincial authorities.
Zehri has reportedly been targeted by militants in several attacks in the past. His brother, a son and nephew were killed in an explosion in Khuzda district of Balochistan before the May 11, 2013 general elections in Pakistan.
