QUETTA: Political tensions between the PML-N and the PPP in Balochistan surfaced prominently on Wednesday after PML-N Senator Mir Dostain Khan Domki claimed that Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti would soon be replaced. His remarks sparked a wave of speculation, which the PPP swiftly dismissed as unfounded and politically motivated.
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Senator Domki alleged that CM Bugti had failed to meet the expectations of the PPP’s central leadership, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the federal government and the establishment. He accused the chief minister of ineffective governance and pointed to rising concerns over corruption and law and order, even as security forces continued to sacrifice for stability in the province.
The PML-N senator further claimed that a two-and-a-half-year power-sharing formula between the coalition partners was set to conclude in August next year, after which a new chief minister from the PPP would be brought in to complete the remaining term. According to him, consultations for selecting a new candidate were already underway.
The PPP leadership in Balochistan, however, strongly rejected these assertions. PPP provincial president Sardar Umar Gorgaij and parliamentary leader Mir Sadiq Umrani said CM Bugti enjoyed full support from all coalition partners and that the party’s top leadership had made no decision regarding any change. They described Domki’s statements as “baseless” and merely the personal desire of a single PML-N senator.
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Reaffirming the party’s stance, the PPP leaders cited Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari’s earlier statement that the PPP does not believe in replacing its own chief ministers mid-term. They urged Senator Domki to raise any grievances directly with CM Bugti instead of fuelling rumours that could strain the coalition’s working relationship.