On Saturday, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) candidate Sarfraz Bugti was elected as the Chief Minister of Balochistan. Bugti was elected by the Balochistan Assembly with 41 votes in his favor, while four lawmakers abstained from voting. He is scheduled to take the oath today at the Governor’s House during the swearing-in ceremony. Balochistan Governor Abdul Wali Kakar will administer the oath.
He filed his nomination papers before the deadline on Friday, following his party’s chairman, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, and co-chairman, Asif Ali Zardari, naming him as their nominee for Chief Minister. Additionally, leaders from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), such as Nawab Sanaullah Khan Zehri and Sardar Sarfaraz Chakar Domki, have also extended their support to him. Reportedly, Bugti resigned from his position as caretaker interior minister in December of last year and joined the Bilawal-led party.
He has additionally committed to involving all parties in the pursuit of development and prosperity in Balochistan and has initiated efforts to enhance governance to address various issues, as per media. Following the submission of his nomination papers on Friday, he emphasized that the PPP advocates for dialogue and has consistently resolved issues through negotiations. He further encouraged dissatisfied individuals to integrate into the mainstream and contribute to the country’s development.
The recently appointed Chief Minister stressed the importance of engaging in discussions with opposition parties to foster the development of Balochistan. He stated that constructive criticism would be embraced and urged against engaging in destructive politics for the greater good of the nation. Additionally, he mentioned that efforts would be made to reach a consensus with the opposition to propel Balochistan’s progress forward, and reiterated his readiness for dialogue at all times.
He mentioned plans to present a roadmap for achieving sustainable development and addressing the shared challenges of the province. However, he clarified that he was unaware of the purported two-and-a-half-year government formula. Bugti also expressed gratitude towards the PPP chairman and co-chairman for nominating him for the position of chief minister.
