ISLAMABAD: The disgruntled chief minister of Balochistan, Nawab Aslam Raisani on Friday agreed to end the ongoing constitutional crisis in the province after a meeting with President Asif Ali Zardari.
Among other key matters pertaining to the constitutional crisis in Balochistan, it was decided in the meeting that the provincial assembly will be dissolved on March 19.
Law Minister Farooq H. Naek told Dawn.Com that the governor rule will not be extended and the Raisani government has been restored in the province.
Sources said reservations of the deposed Balochistan CM were addressed during his meeting with the president in Islamabad.
“CM Raisani has agreed to send advice to the governor for dissolving the assembly,” a former minister of Balochistan cabinet told Dawn.com on the condition of anonymity as he was bound not to disclose the news.
Sources said the defiant CM did not bow down to pressure from Islamabad and finally forced the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP)-led federal government to restore his government.
The constitutional term of the governor’s rule, imposed in the aftermath of deadly attacks on Shia Hazaras in Quetta, has already ended on March 14.
The chief minister is now set to chair the last provincial cabinet meeting on Sunday, March 17, sources confirmed.
Meanwhile, Governor Balochistan Nawab Zulfiqar Magsi held a series of meetings with the deposed chief minister and subsequently succeeded in convincing Raisani to meet the president in Islamabad.
The chief minister also held consultative meetings with leaders of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), Balochistan National Party (BNP) and Awami National Party (ANP) for evolving future strategy.
JUI-F Balochistan Amir Maulana Muhammad Khan Sherani, former senior minister Maulana Wasey, BNP’s parliamentary leader Syed Ehsan Shah and ANP’s Zamarak Achakzai participated in the meetings.
Currently Nawabzada Tariq Magsi, the brother of Governor Magsi, is the opposition leader in the provincial assembly.
Sadiq Umrani, the PPP Balochistan president, told Dawn.com that pro-Tariq Maqsi ministers have decided to tender their resignations within next couple of days to ensure majority among the opposition benches.
Mateen Haider from Islamabad and Syed Ali Shah from Quetta contributed to reporting for the story
