The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has emerged as the predominant party in Balochistan, securing 17 seats in the provincial assembly, closely followed by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) with 16 seats, according to the February 8 election results released by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on February 24, as reported by Dawn.
According to the official notification, the PPP leads with 17 seats, trailed by the PML-N with 16 seats, while the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazal (JUI-F) has garnered 12 seats.
Sources indicate that the PPP has garnered the support of independent MPA Molvi Noorullah, elected from Qila Saifullah, who was previously affiliated with JUI-F but was ousted due to internal disagreements during local body elections. Molvi Noorullah’s victory over JUI-F’s Maulana Abdul Wasey indicates the evolving political landscape, as reported by Dawn.
The Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) secured five seats, the National Party (NP) secured four seats, and the Awami National Party clinched three seats. Additionally, Jamaat-i-Islami (JI), Balochistan National Party (BNP-Mengal), and BNP Awami each secured one seat. The assembly also comprises one independent member, with the final announcement pending for three general seats.
With the assembly consisting of 65 members and 33 seats needed for a majority government, negotiations are ongoing between PML-N and PPP leadership for a coalition government, potentially supported by five members of the BAP. Other parties are anticipated to join the coalition, except for JUI-F, which aims to assume the role of opposition.
In separate engagements, the newly elected MPAs from Balochistan met with former President Asif Ali Zardari at his Islamabad residence on Saturday to discuss government formation in the province. Similarly, the MNAs and MPAs-elect from Balochistan on the PML-N ticket convened with the party president, Shehbaz Sharif, on February 24. The delegation was led by PML-N’s provincial president, Jaffar Khan Mandokhel. Four independents – Mir Asim Kurd, Wali Muhammad, retired Capt. Abdul Khaliq, and Barkat Ali Rind – who recently joined PML-N, also participated in the discussion regarding the formation of the provincial government.