Consensus reached as Domki ‘picked’ for Balochistan interim CM’s slot

Balochistan Chief Minister Abdul Quddus Bizenjo and Leader of the Opposition Malik Sikandar Kakar on Tuesday reached a consensus as they nominated Mir Ali Mardan Khan Domki as the caretaker chief minister of Balochistan.

The incumbent chief minister and the leader of the opposition agreed upon Domki’s name, sources said, just before the given time for finalising the name of the interim CM.

The nomination has come on the heels of a meeting between caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar, Balochistan former CM Jam Kamal and Domki. Kamal and Domki called on the newly-appointed interim PM in Islamabad earlier on Tuesday.

Subsequently, PM Kakar visited the residence of JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman.

Though the official statement said Kakar met the Maulana to express his condolences over those martyred in a suicide attack in Khar, Bajuar at the JUI-F Workers’ Convention, sources said the purpose of the meeting was also to convince the JUI-F on the Balochistan caretaker CM’s name.

The sources further added that the JUI-F agreed on Domki’s name after it was promised that the party would be accommodated in the caretaker setup.

Tuesday was the last day for consultation about the caretaker chief minister as Monday night’s meeting had been inconclusive.

If no decision was taken by Tuesday night, the matter would have been handed over to the relevant parliamentary committee. However, Domki’s name was finalised in the meeting between Bizenjo and Kakar.

A formal announcement wasn’t made till the time of filing the story.

On August 12, Balochistan Governor Malik Abdul Wali Kakar dissolved the provincial assembly on the advice of CM Bizenjo. Bizenjo has been performing duties until a new chief minister comes in.

Reportedly, Domki belongs to Lahri area of Balochistan. He is a son of politician Mir Hazor Bakhsh Domki, who served as a senator between 1975 and 1977. Domki did his Masters in Sociology from Allama Iqbal University (AIOU) Islamabad and has served as Tehsil Nazim Lahri and District Nazim Sibi.

Ali Mardan Domki was born on October 13, 1972. His brother Dostin Domki has been a member of the Balochistan Assembly and also served as a minister of state.