Syed Ali Shah analysis:
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The 2023 general elections seem to be a long way off but political parties have renewed their efforts to cultivate and get the support of electables in their folds. In Balochistan, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has already managed to get some politicians/electables with constituencies in its fold.
However, Jamiat ul Ulema e Islam (JUI) has also doubled efforts to bring electables within its fold. In view of rising political temperature in the country, JUI F Chief Maulana Fazal ur Rehman has arrived in Quetta to muster the support of electables. Former Chief Minister Balochistan, Nawab Muhammad Aslam Raisani, former home minister, Mir Zafarullah Zehri, and former provincial ministers Ghulam Dastagir Badini and Amanullah Notezai have joined the religious party.
For the first time, such a large number of electables joined JUI
This is for the first time that electives from the Baloch-dominated areas of Balochistan joined the religious party in such a large number. This proves the religious party’s eyes are focused on the Chief Ministership in the province. The religious party has always representation in the Balochistan Assembly and part of various successive governments since Balochistan got the province’s status in the 1970s.
However, the party has always supported chief ministers including Nawab Muhammad Akbar Khan Bugti, Sardar Attaullah Mengal, Sardar Akhtar Mengal, Mir Jan Muhammad Jamali, Jam Muhammad Yousaf and Nawab Muhammad Aslam Raisani in the past.
The party expanded towards Baloch areas
Since the party has always won majority seats from Pashtoon-dominated areas of Balochistan, therefore, it has lost CM ship to other political parties.
This is for the first time that electables from Baloch areas have joined the religious party. Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Hyderi, the central secretary general of the party hinted at this intention while addressing a gathering on the eve of the joining of Nawab Muhammad Aslam Raisani at Sarawan house.
The party has twelve lawmakers in the house of 65 currently. If it gains more seats then it would be in a stronger position to negotiate for the CMship in Balochistan. Recent developments show the party expanded its vote base from Kalat, Khuzdar to Noshki, Mastung, Chaghi and other areas of Balochistan.
