Balochistan’s provincial government is in crisis. Infighting within the political administration has been rampant since June when the budget was passed with deep contentions from many sides of Balochistan’s political makeup. Coupled with growing infrastructure problems, and a fear of rising terrorism, discontent against the leadership is high, even among one of the ruling parties. The past month has been a show of poor leadership from all politicians involved in Balochistan, as events betray a back and forth of allegations, calls to resign and refusals, causing a stalemate.
The blame lies on Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan Alyani for being unable to manage his own party members and negotiate effectively. He should have known that these imminent calls for him to resign as Chief Minister would come as soon as he resigned as president of the ruling Balochistan Awami Party (BAP). This move, which had been lambasted by some disgruntled BAP members, has satisfied nobody, and only united those calling for his resignation.
If the Chief Minister thought the resignation from the post of president of the party would pacify the party, he was mistaken, for only a few days later, a group comprising of provincial ministers and lawmakers of BAP and its allies in the coalition government gave Jam Kamal Khan Alyani a 24-hour ultimatum to step down or they would initiate more formal processes against him, like a vote of no-confidence.
The Chief Minister cannot ignore the deadline and go about his role, as he has been doing so far. He must urgently negotiate with at least some party or group if he wants to stay on as Chief Minister. He must find a way to talk to his own cabinet and party members. Otherwise, the group has the numbers to pass a no-confidence vote, which will only usher in more instability for the Balochistan government. The last thing the province needs is political strife when development must remain a priority.
