Will Sanaullah Zehri outperform Dr Malik?

ISLAMABAD: Though a result of 2013 Murree agreement, the nomination of Sardar Sanaullah Zehri as chief minister Balochistan has raised many eyebrows amid fears that the province may lose what it has gained under the outgoing chief minister Dr Abdul Malik.

A Baloch politician, however, claimed in response to a question that Zehri would outperform Malik in good governance giving a surprise to all. He said Zehri is a very hardworking and experienced politician.

But some even in the ruling PML-N feel that the replacement of Dr Malik is really a retrogressive decision taken by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. This decision has raised serious marks about the fate of what the political and security authorities have achieved during the last two and a half years in the province.

“Dr Malik was one of the best CM Balochistan ever got,” a source said, adding that now the fate of 41 percent of Pakistan and most vulnerable and backward region of the country being given to person whose credentials are extremely questionable.

Sardar Sanaullah Zehri will surprise everyone including even the PML-N top leadership if he carries on with the work done by Dr Malik. However, there are fears that he may beat ex-chief minister Nawab Aslam Raisani.

“Good governance is all Greek to him, rather the concept is totally alien to his vocabulary,” an official source said, adding that the PMLN leadership will have to take responsibility for this decision and its long-term consequences.

Balochistan situation under Dr Malik has improved phenomenally. With great understanding and maturity, Malik has worked closely with military establishment to improve the law and order situation in the province that was earlier seen slipping out of hands.

Not only the Balochistan government under Dr Malik established contacts with estranged Baloch leaders, including Brahamdagh Bugti, Khan of Kalat and others, but also succeeded in convincing hundreds of militants to lay down their arms. He fully supported the policy of the military’s Southern Command to woo back the separatists.

Malik personally visited Switzerland at least twice during the recent months to convince Brahamdagh Bugti to shun violence. Because of his role, both the civilian and military leaderships had their full faith in him.

The National Party leader is the first ever representative of middle class to have occupied the office of the chief executive of Balochistan in last 68 years. Otherwise, this topmost provincial executive post remained the domain of Nawabs and Sardars of Balochistan

The non-tribal leader, Dr Malik also brought a good name to the province by improving governance and checking corruption. Recent surveys including that of Pildat showed Balochistan under Malik doing much better than before.

“Like a gentleman Dr Malik has honoured an absurd understanding,” a federal government source said, lamenting that the PML-N leadership should have risen to the challenge and asked Dr Malik to continue besides convincing their party men in Balochistan to rise above personal interest and hold national interest supreme.

The source said that now after Zehri nomination as future chief minister, the federal government should not only appoint Dr Malik as key member in the PM’s team to keep a focus on Balohistan affairs but also send no nonsense chief secretary and inspector general police.

“The provincial bureaucracy and police should be totally insulated from possible antics of the new political administration,” he said, adding that for the best interest of Balochistan and its people the prime minister will have to encourage the chief secretary and IGP to act as bulwark against bad governance.