QUETTA: Senior leaders from the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) have jointly shut down rumors regarding the replacement of Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti, affirming their commitment to political stability in the province amidst a complex tribal and security landscape .
PPP central leader Qamar Zaman Kaira, addressing the media, dismissed the claims as potentially reflecting “someone’s personal desire,” but clarified that no such decision had been taken by the party leadership. He emphasized that a change in leadership during the current difficult political and tribal situation could be detrimental .
This sentiment was echoed by PML-N leaders, with Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal stating in a private TV program that no conflict exists between the coalition partners. Reinforcing this, PML-N parliamentary leader in the Balochistan Assembly, Saleem Khosa, expressed full confidence in CM Bugti and termed the recent statement by former minister Dostain Domki as merely his “personal opinion,” adding that the party leadership would take notice of it . The firm denials from both parties suggest a concerted effort to present a united front. Earlier this month, the two parties also resolved a separate, public dispute at the federal level that had seen the PPP stage a walkout from the National Assembly, further underscoring their intent to manage internal disagreements .
The Bugti administration governs a province where security is a predominant concern. The current government, under Chief Minister Bugti, has been characterized by a strong security-focused approach, including a crackdown on dissent through the use of anti-terrorism laws and the detention of rights activists . This has occurred against a backdrop of a surging insurgency, with militant attacks in the province reaching levels not seen since 2014 . A series of widespread protests rocked Balochistan in March and April 2025, sparked by a major train hijacking and the subsequent police crackdown on demonstrators, illustrating the volatile public sentiment the government must manage .
Political observers note that with the government facing challenges from various political and tribal elements, as well as extremist movements, a change in the chief minister would not only create political instability but could also severely disrupt administrative affairs at a critical time.
