QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti has travelled to Dubai on a private visit to meet President Asif Ali Zardari after reports of a possible change in the provincial government surfaced. The president, however, declined to meet Bugti immediately.
The ruling alliance, PPP and PML-N, has rejected reports of removing Sarfaraz Bugti from the position of chief minister after claims emerged that the PPP wanted to replace him.
Express News, citing PPP sources, reported that Sarfaraz Bugti visited the UAE and attempted to meet President Asif Ali Zardari during his stay. He requested an appointment with the president.
However, PPP sources claimed President Zardari declined to meet Bugti immediately.
The report further said that the chief minister is expected to remain in Dubai for a few more days in hopes of securing a meeting.
A disgruntled PPP MPA from Balochistan has also conveyed his reservations about Sarfaraz Bugti directly to President Zardari, sources added. Dostain Domki, had issued the statement about removing the Chief Minister which was later refuted by both, PMLN, and PPP.
Earlier, Balochistan’s Provincial Food Minister and PML-N lawmaker Noor Muhammad Dummar revealed that PML-N and PPP had agreed on a power-sharing formula to form the provincial government.
He said that under the agreement, Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti will serve for the first two and a half years, after which a change in leadership is possible.
Later, PML-N leaders also confirmed that both parties had agreed to share the five-year term, with each holding the chief minister’s office for two and a half years.
However, after the foiling of the anti-Sarfaraz Bugti campaign, the provincial leadership of PML-N has once again assured to cooperate completely with the provincial government.
Pakistan People’s Party has once again vowed that the CM ship is purely a mandate of the party and if some change is carried out, the next CM will also be from PPP.
