Abdul Quddus Bizenjo has been elected as the 17th Chief Minister of Balochistan on Friday, securing 39 votes out of 65 from the Balochistan Assembly.
While the constituent parties of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) including JUI-F, BNP-Mengal, and PKMAP stayed away from the session.
Bizenjo’s election has come a few days after Jam Kamal Khan resigned as the CM of Balochistan in the aftermath of serious differences within the ruling Balochistan Awami Party (BAP). However, former chief minister Jam Kamal Khan was not present on the occasion of voting.
Lawmakers from the Awami National Party (ANP), Hazara Democratic Party (HDP), Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP), and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) voted for Mr. Bizenjo. The allies had earlier supported Jam Kamal Khan as the Chief Minister of Balochistan.
Another former Chief Minister of Balochistan, Nawab Aslam Raisani was also not present in the house on the occasion of voting. Raisani had earlier announced that he would not vote for BAP candidates.
In his initial speech to the house, Bizenjo said “my victory is everyone’s victory”. Members of the Assembly in their speeches congratulated Quddus Bizenjo as leader of the house.