Swirling speculation emerged after claims President Zardari expressed reservations over Bugti’s performance
CM Balochistan Sarfaraz Bugti. Photo: File
QUETTA:
As reports suggest a possible change in Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti, the coalition partners – PPP and PML-N – have reaffirmed their confidence in the outgoing provincial chief executive.
Much speculation emerged after claims that President Asif Ali Zardari had expressed reservations over Bugti’s performance. Reports further suggest that during a recent trip to Dubai, the president refused to meet the chief minister of Balochistan, fueling rumors of an imminent change in leadership of the province.
However, senior parliamentary leaders from the PML-N and PPP moved quickly to quell such speculation, assuring the public that Chief Minister Bugti continues to enjoy the full support of the coalition partners.
Their assurance comes at a time when several prominent leaders from both parties – including Ali Hassan Zehri and Mir Liaquat Ali Lehri of the PPP, and Nawab Changaiz Marri of the PML-N – have publicly expressed their displeasure over what they see as the chief minister’s failure to improve governance and address the province’s fundamental challenges.
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Their criticism, while notable, appears to reflect internal frustration rather than an organized push for political change. PML-N Parliamentary Leader Mir Saleem Khan Khosa and PPP Parliamentary Leader Mir Muhammad Sadiq Umrani strongly rejected Senator Mir Dostain Khan Domki’s claim of an imminent change in leadership, dismissing it as his personal opinion.
They pointed out that neither the party’s central leadership had initiated discussions on replacing the chief minister, nor the coalition partners considered such a move necessary at this stage.
Speaking to reporters after the provincial assembly session, Khosa noted that Balochistan continues to grapple with persistent problems of law and order, service delivery and administrative shortcomings – issues which were discussed in detail during a closed-door briefing.
He added that he had informed National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq about the controversy and expected the party leadership to question Senator Domki for making an unauthorized statement at a sensitive time.
Mir Muhammad Sadiq Umrani of the PPP echoed these views, acknowledging that while pockets of criticism exist within the coalition, the government remains united on broader goals. He said disagreements are part of political life, especially in a province facing deep-rooted structural problems, but cautioned that such disagreements should not be misinterpreted as rebellion.
Both leaders stressed that coalition politics in Balochistan required patience, maturity and continuous dialogue. They urged supporters and observers not to mistake internal criticism for instability, saying the administration remains intact and committed to addressing the province’s long-standing challenges.
