After months-long delay: Balochistan to get full cabinet today

QUETTA: It took the coalition government in Balochistan around five months to finalise the makeup of the provincial cabinet after coming to power as a result of the May 11 elections. The government-making process in the province will finally conclude today (Monday) when as many as 16 MPAs take oath as members of the expanded provincial cabinet. The new cabinet members will be sworn in at a ceremony in the Governor’s House in Quetta, bringing the months-long impasse between the coalition partners over the size and the composition of the cabinet to an end. The Balochistan government has been operating without a proper cabinet since coming to power following the May 11 general elections. Only three provincial ministers were sworn in as part of a provisional cabinet on June 19. A senior political leader who is part of the Balochistan government confirmed that differences among Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) MPAs led to the months-long delay in finalising the cabinet. “The matter was taken up by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif… he said he would finalise the names [for the cabinet slots] himself if his party members failed to reach consensus,” he told The Express Tribune on condition of anonymity. “National Party (NP) and Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) had no issues with the distribution of ministries,” he added. While none of the coalition partners have officially disclosed the names of the new cabinet members, sources within the three parties revealed the names of those likely to take oath today. According to NP sources, MPAs Rehmat Baloch, Sardar Aslam Bizenjo and Mujeeb Mohammad Hassani will take oath as provincial ministers from their party while Khalid Lango will be sworn in as adviser to the chief minister. PML-N sources, on the other hand, said Nawabzada Jangayz Marri, Mir Sarfraz Domki, Jafar Khan Mandokhel, Mir Sarfraz Bugti and Azhar Khoso would be sworn in as ministers, and Haji Akbar Askani and Majid Abro will take oath as advisers today. Meanwhile, sources in PkMAP said Nawab Ayaz Khan Jogezai, Majeed Achakzai and Sardar Raza Mohammed Badech would be sworn in as ministers from their party while Mustafa Tareen and Nasrullah Zaray would take oath as advisers to the chief minister. When contacted, Sardar Badech said he was unaware that he would take oath as a member of the cabinet today (Monday). “I heard my name [among possible members of the cabinet] on news channels… I don’t know who have been selected as ministers and advisers… the party leadership has these names,” he said. He added that PkMAP members would accept whatever decision their party leadership made. A spokesperson for the Balochistan government had earlier revealed the formula for the distribution of cabinet slots agreed upon by the coalition partners. Under the formula, the cabinet will comprise six ministers and two advisers from PML-N, four ministers and two advisers from PkMAP, and four ministers and an adviser from NP. Last week, The Express Tribune reported that the PML-N would have the largest share in the Balochistan cabinet and that it would be revealed in the coming days. The provincial government’s inability to finalise the cabinet in the five months since it assumed power has attracted a lot of criticism. It has faced several serious challenges in that time, such as the devastating earthquake that struck Awaran and Kech districts, claiming over 500 lives and rendering hundreds of thousands others homeless. The province has also seen a sharp increase in militancy and sectarian violence. Balochistan National Party (Mengal) President Sardar Akhtar Mengal questioned how a government that had been unable to finalise a cabinet in four months would be able to conduct an all parties conference to address the province’s issues. “There are serious issues in Balochistan and the province needs a strong government to resolve them. So far the performance [of the Balochistan government] is not commendable,” he said while talking to reporters. The provincial government, however, brushed off the criticism. “The formula for the cabinet was finalised when Dr Abdul Malik Baloch took oath as chief minister,” said Balochistan chief minister’s spokesperson Jan Buledi. He added that Dr Malik had fulfilled his responsibilities as chief minister so far, and had personally monitored relief efforts in Awaran. Published in The Express Tribune, October 14th, 2013.