Balochistan’s politics

The political instability that is brewing in Balochistan may not be confined to the province but could spill over to other parts of the country. The recent development, which resulted in a no-confidence motion against Chief Minister Jam Kamal, may appear insignificant at first but can alter the political landscape.

The Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) was formed hurriedly in 2018 by dissidents of various parties and soon emerged as the largest party in the province. It elected Jam Kamal Alyani – hailing from Nawab of Lasbela’s family – as party president and chief minister soon after. But the party has been facing a deep rift in recent months after an attack on the provincial assembly.

Several disgruntled BAP lawmakers and their allies filed a no-confidence motion to build pressure on the chief minister. They cited unemployment and unrest as major reasons, but more importantly the callous attitude of Jam Kamal to the economic crisis in the province. Eventually, the angry members defied authority and appointed a new party president to challenge his leadership.

CM Jam Kamal has vowed to fight the no-trust motion till the last moment. He has also slammed naming a new president in his presence and has refused to resign. The efforts by Senate Chairman Sanjrani and Deputy Speaker National Assembly to placate the disgruntled lawmakers remained unsuccessful and have ignited a political crisis in Balochistan.

Balochistan is often considered the bellwether of Pakistan’s politics. In 2013, the PPP was forced to suspend its provincial government and imposed governor’s rule, while in 2018, the PML-N was voted out of power just weeks before its tenure was completed. These are just two examples of how political dynamics in Balochistan can have an overbearing effect on national politics.

The efforts against CM Balochistan are constitutional but the reservations of party members can be easily resolved. This may result in a change of leadership, which the province has witnessed, or even lead to the disintegration of the party. The chieftains and politicians in Balochistan often use these disputes to reset political alignment for their vest interests.

The political uncertainty in the province which has long seen insurgency, militant violence and lack of development, will harm the situation there. What is required is a government that resolves its issues and helps the people of the province.