QUETTA: The Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) on Tuesday announced to hold intra-party elections on September 27 in Quetta.
BAP President Nawabzada Khalid Hussain Magsi issued the notification, appointing Senator Kahda Babar as chairman of the election committee. Sardar Yahya Jogezai and Roz Jan Khan will serve as committee members.
Party members will elect new representatives in the polls, a move aimed at strengthening BAP’s internal structure.
Establishment of BAP
Lawmakers from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), and other groups formed BAP in March 2018, just months before the general elections. The party positioned itself as a platform focused on Balochistan’s issues. Analysts widely viewed its creation as backed by the establishment, given the speed of its organization and its access to key political figures.
Government in Balochistan
BAP rose to power in the 2018 general elections, forming a coalition government in Balochistan with independents and smaller parties. Jam Kamal Khan Alyani became its first chief minister. The party promoted infrastructure projects, youth initiatives, and sought to serve as a bridge between Balochistan and the federal government.
BAP also expanded its presence in the Senate, giving the party influence at the national level despite its regional base.
Fall of Balochistan Awami Party
BAP’s decline began in 2021 amid internal divisions. Lawmakers moved a no-confidence motion against Jam Kamal Khan, forcing him to resign. Mir Abdul Quddus Bizenjo replaced him as chief minister, but factional rivalries grew deeper.
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Before the 2024 elections, several senior leaders, including Jam Kamal Khan and current Chief Minister Sarfaz Bugti left the party and joined other parties. Eventually, the party lost ground in both the Balochistan Assembly and at the federal level, reducing its role to the margins of politics.
