Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti took oath of office on Saturday afternoon following his unopposed election for the position.
Governor Abdul Wali Kakar administered the oath to Bugti in the Balochistan Assembly.
Former Caretaker Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti resigned from his post before completion of his tenure and joined the Pakistan Peoples Party.
He submitted his nomination papers to Assembly Secretary Tahir Shah on Friday after garnering support from the PML-N.
Proposals from PPP leader Nawab Sanaullah Zehri and PML-N leader Nawab Gangeez Khan Marri solidified Bugti’s candidacy, and with no contenders emerging by the 5 pm deadline, his nomination was accepted after scrutiny by the secretary.
Bugti’s political trajectory took a turn in December when he resigned from the federal cabinet and joined the PPP. Contesting on the party’s ticket, he secured victory in the PB-10 constituency in Dera Bugti. Mir Changez Khan Jamali, President of PPP’s Balochistan chapter, announced Bugti’s candidacy for Chief Minister on behalf of the party, citing approval from PPP leaders Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and Asif Ali Zardari.
Expressing gratitude for the nomination and acknowledging PML-N’s support, Bugti affirmed his commitment to inclusivity in governance.
As the Chief Minister, he pledged to engage all political parties to address Balochistan’s issues and work towards the province’s development and prosperity. Bugti emphasized the PPP’s adherence to democratic principles and dialogue for issue resolution.
In the aftermath of the February 8 general elections, where PPP emerged as the largest party in Balochistan, a coalition government is in the making with the participation of PML-N and BAP.
Bugti extended an olive branch to opposition parties, asserting that consensus and collaboration would be the cornerstone of Balochistan’s progress.
