Caretaker Prime Minister Justice (retd) Mir Hazar Khan Khoso is visiting Balochistan this week in an effort to use his Baloch connection to convince disgruntled Baloch leaders to participate in general elections.

It will be premier Khoso’s first official visit to Quetta where he will be meeting various Baloch leaders, urging them to participate in the upcoming elections.Yes, the prime minister will undertake Balochistan’s visit this week,” confirmed Prime Minister Press Secretary Shafqat Jalil.Khoso will leave for Quetta tomorrow (Wednesday) and return to Islamabad on April 7, officials said, adding after this visit the premier will be visiting other provincial capitals.

During his stay in Quetta, he will meet Caretaker Chief Minister Balochistan Nawab Ghaus Bukhsh Barozai and leaders of other political parties to discuss security arrangements for the next general elections. Khoso is expected to meet leaders of the National Party, Balochistan National Party, Hazara Democratic Party, Jamaat-e-Islami, Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, Balochistan National Party-Awami, Pakistan Muslim League-N, National Party-Mengal, Pakistan Muslim League-Q and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-F.

He is likely to meet Akhtar Mengal, chief of BNP-Mengal to address his reservations over the election matters in the province. Both leaders will discuss the options on how to convince the scions of three tribal chieftains to participate in elections.Deputy Chief of Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, Abdul Rahim Mandokhail welcomed Khoso’s plan saying, “His [Khoso] visit will pave the way for peaceful elections in Balochistan.”

Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan Package

The caretaker prime minister has directed all ministries and divisions of the federal government to fill the remaining 3,021 vacancies available to persons holding Balochistan domicile under the Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan (AHB) package before the elections.

Officials familiar with the development told The Express Tribune on Tuesday that Khoso wants to see the AHB package implemented. The outgoing government had introduced AHB some four years ago. Khoso has directed secretary establishment division to finalise the process of filling in the 7,582 vacancies promised under the AHB package. Some 4,561 have already been filled.