LAHORE / QUETTA: PML-N chief and prime minister in-waiting Nawaz Sharif could not finalise the name for the post of Balochistan chief minister on Friday, even a day before members of the new provincial assembly are to take oath.

A meeting Mr Sharif held with his close aides at his Raiwind residence ended inconclusively.

“There has been no decision so far on the name of Balochistan chief minister,” PML-N Senator Pervaiz Rashid told Dawn.

When it was pointed out that the Balochistan Assembly was to hold its first session on Saturday which would make it impossible for its members to visit Mr Sharif in Lahore, he said: “We may go to Balochistan for the purpose.”

On Thursday, Nawaz Sharif held a meeting with leaders of various parties from Balochistan and MPAs-elect belonging to the PML-N, National Party (NP) and Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP). It was also attended by three main aspirants for the post of chief minister — Dr Abdul Malik of the NP and Sardar Sanaullah Zehri and Nawabzada Changez Marri of the PML-N.

According to sources, Mr Sharif is taking time because he does not want to annoy any ‘Sardar’ of Balochistan.

The PML-Q has already asked its five legislators to support Dr Malik. The sources said Mr Zehri was not being flexible because the Sharif brothers had earlier assured him that he would be their choice for the coveted post.

Although the PML-N, PkMAP and NP have empowered Mr Sharif to nominate a leader of the house, Sanaullah Zehri, the PML-N’s Balochistan president, said principles of autonomy required that the province itself took a decision on the formation of government like other provinces.

He was of the opinion that under the 18th Amendment it was the right of the majority party to choose a chief minister. “PML-N is a majority party and the chief minister should be from it,” he told reporters at the Quetta airport on Friday after returning from Lahore.

But he said the leader of the house would be chosen with consensus and “we will support him”. He rejected a perception that there were differences in the PML-N ranks over the issue and said it was being spread by “certain quarters”.

Mr Zehri said the PML-N chief was aware of the situation and would soon take a final decision. “The interest of the people of Balochistan will be given priority in formation of the government,” he said.

Responding to a question, he said he would have no objection if Nawabzada Marri supported Dr Malik Baloch for the post of chief minister, but a decision in this regard should be taken with consensus.

Meanwhile, Nawabzada Marri told reporters that consultations were under way to agree on a name for the leader of the house.

NP chief Dr Malik Baloch said the PkMAP had suggested his name for the post of chief minister, but any decision taken by Nawaz Sharif would be “acceptable to us”.

He said it had been decided in Quetta and Lahore that the PML-N, PkMAP and NP would form a coalition government in Balochistan. He said his party had presented its point of view during meetings with Mr Sharif.

According to sources, the two nationalist parties not only sought the chief minister’s slot but also the post of speaker and portfolio of senior minister and some other important ministries.

The governorship was also demanded by the PkMAP.

Sources said the PML-N parliamentary party did not accept with their demands. The party said it had 18 seats in the assembly and, therefore, had the right to have its own chief minister.