QUETTA - The younger brother of the Balochistan governor, Nawabzada Tariq Magsi, has been appointed as opposition leader in the Balochistan Assembly at a time when it is going to complete its tenure only in just three months. Nawabzada Tariq Magsi who was a member of the treasury benches demanded, through a letter written three months back, the slot of the opposition leader in the provincial assembly.
The Assembly Secretariat sources said Balochistan Assembly Speaker Aslam Bhootani notified him as the leader of the opposition in the assembly with effect from December 18. “Now Tariq Magsi is the opposition leader of the assembly unless the notification of the speaker is withdrawn,” the sources added.
Earlier, opposition member Sardar Yar Muhammad and three other members had submitted letters for the slot of the opposition leader, which were not entertained. Tariq Magsi had won by-election from PB-32 Jhal Magsi after the seat fell vacant on Nawab Zulfiqar Ali Magsi’s becoming the governor.
Political observers say the nomination of Tariq Magsi as the opposition leader is reflective of mutual understanding between the Balochistan chief minister and the governor and it would decrease the difficulties of Nawab Aslam Raisani in bringing an interim setup as after the 18th Constitutional Amendment as the consent of opposition leader in the caretaker setup is essential.