—— Parliamentary panel named Ali Mardan Domki as Balochistan interim CM
—— Balochistan Assembly was dissolved on August 12, 2023
QUETTA: Seasoned politician Ali Mardan Domki on Friday took oath as Balochistan caretaker chief minister during a ceremony held at the Governor House in the provincial capital city.
Balochistan Governor Malik Abdul Wali Khan Kakar administered the oath to Domki. Earlier today, Domki was named as the caretaker CM by a parliamentary panel and a summary in this regard was approved by the provincial governor.
Domki belongs to the Lahri area of Balochistan and is the son of former senator Mir Hazor Bakhsh Domki, who was a lawmaker from 1975 to 1977.
The development comes after the first round of the talks between members of the committee — formed by Balochistan Assembly speaker Mir Jan Muhammad Jamali — failed to agree on a name a day earlier.
The committee was formed following three days of talks sans results between outgoing Chief Minister Abdul Quddus Bizenjo and the Opposition Leader in the dissolved Balochistan Assembly Malik Sikandar Khan.
It is pertinent to mention here that the assembly was dissolved on August 12, the day it completed its five-year tenure. The dissolution of the assembly prompts the process of picking a caretaker setup, which facilitates the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in holding the general polls.
The elections will see a delay as the ECP has announced the delimitation process, which will complete in mid-December, meaning that the polls will take place some months later.
Agencies add: Balochistan Governor Malik Abdul Wali Khan Kakar on Friday approved the name of Ali Mardan Khan Domki as the caretaker chief minister of the province.
According to the Public Relations Officer to the governor, Paind Khan Kharoti, Governor Kakar gave the approval on the recommendation of the parliamentary committee which forwarded the name to him last night.
Domki is expected to take the oath of his office soon.
The process to appoint Balochistan’s caretaker chief minister had failed to conclude yesterday after three members of the committee, tasked with nominating the new CM, failed to attend the meeting.
The committee, which was notified earlier in the day, was scheduled to meet at 9pm. However, only three members arrived to attend the meeting, an official of the Balochistan Assembly had told.
Earlier in the day, Speaker Jan Muhammad Khan Jamali had formed a six-member parliamentary committee — with three leaders each from the treasury and opposition members in the previous assembly.
The matter was referred to the committee after outgoing chief minister Mir Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo and opposition leader Malik Sikander Khan had failed to reach a consensus on a name.
The outgoing chief minister had on Tuesday night refused to accept the nomination of Domki for the post of caretaker CM. It was proposed by former CM Jam Kamal Khan Alyani and Malik Khan after meeting interim Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar.
Differences had cropped up on Wednesday among the opposition parties over the nomination of committee members.
Bizenjo, who is in Islamabad, had not met the opposition leader and Alyani went to Balochistan House to get his signature on the summary regarding the nomination of Domki and said he had not approved the latter as a consensus candidate.
The matter was then referred to the parliamentary committee to decide a candidate through a vote.
The Balochistan assembly was dissolved on Aug 12, after which former CM Qudoos Bizenjo and former opposition leader Malik Sikandar Khan had three days to choose a candidate. –Agencies
