QUETTA: Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) president Jam Kamal Khan Alyani has termed the July 25 elections in Balochistan completely free and fair, saying “we accept the results despite the fact that BAP’s senior leaders suffered defeat”.

Addressing a press conference on Saturday, he said BAP had started contacting other parties for formation of government in the province.

Mr Alyani was accompanied by BAP founder Syed Ahmed Hashmi, former chief minister Abdul Quddus Bizenjo, Senator Anwarul Haq Kakar, Senator Ahmed Khan, MPA-elect Zia Lang­ove, Dr Ruqaiya Hashmi and BAP secretary general Manzoor Ahmed Kakar.

The BAP president said that his party had so far not finalised who would be its candidate for the post of chief minister in the province. Party leaders were discussing the matter and they were in contact with other parties, he said, adding that the party would take a decision in this regard with consensus.

He said BAP leaders were in contact with Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M), Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, Pakistan Tehreek Insaf and independent MPAs-elect for the formation of provincial government.

Answering a question about remarks of BNP-M chief Sardar Akhtar Jan Mengal on BAP, Mr Alyani said Mr Mengal was a respectful political leader of the province.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2018