ISLAMABAD: Shahzain Bugti, the president of the Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP), said that he will run against Sarfraz Ahmad Bugti, his political adversary, in the forthcoming general elections in Balochistan. Ahmad Bugti would now run for office on the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) platform.
The News visited casually with Shahzain on Monday. “I will consult my people who always give intelligent advice before filing nomination papers since it has been our ritual,” the candidate stated, suggesting that he is targeting the chief minister position in Balochistan.
Without revealing his identity as Sarfraz, the JWP president stated that as Balochistan has its unique customs, changing political party has no bearing.
Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) politician and former caretaker interior minister Sarfraz joined the PPP just days after he resigned to run in the upcoming elections, that are scheduled for February 8, 2024.
“Respected leader Asif Ali Zardari came to Turbat and directed me to join PPP,” remarked Sarfraz, stressing his feelings of joy at having the backing of the party led by Bilawal Bhutto and Asif Ali Zardari going into the general elections.
The JWP president, meantime, said that he would run as a candidate for Shaheed Nawab Akbar Bugti’s JWP party. He further stated that the party’s polling candidates will alter their plans to reflect what is happening in their individual constituencies.
He said, “We would prefer to work with the parties and people who have been keeping neat and clean records.”
Shahzain went on to say that he would run from his home constituency, which originally consisted of up of four districts but now has an extra district. This seat, NA-253, was established by making up of the districts of Dera Bugti, Kolooh, Sibi, and Harnai. Ziarat district is now included in this one constituency.
It used to be dispersed over 20,000 miles, but as of the 2024 elections, this constituency will cover over 30,000 kilometers. He said that one seat in the National Assembly will represent five Balochistani Assembly constituencies.
Shahzain Bugti worked for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) administration as the prime minister’s special assistant for peace and reconciliation in Balochistan.
