QUETTA – Allauddin Marri was named as the caretaker chief minister ofBalochistan on Thursday by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

Additional Secretary ECP Akhtar Nazir announced the electoral watchdog’sdecision during a press conference in Islamabad. Hours earlier, thecommission named Professor Hassan Askari as the interim CM for Punjab.

The former provincial government had suggested the names of Sardar ShoukatPopalzai and Alauddin Marri for the post of caretaker chief minister whilethe opposition had nominated Mohammad Aslam Bhutani and Ashraf JahangirQazi.

The candidates were scrutinised during an ECP meeting, headed by the chiefelection commissioner.

After the two sides failed to reach a consensus, the matter was passed onto the parliamentary committee of Balochistan. However, thegovernment-nominated members boycotted the parliamentary committee meetingon Wednesday after former prime minister Abdul Qudus Bizenjo termed theincumbent opposition leader as controversial.

Former chief ministers Dr Abdul Malik Baloch and Nawab Sanaullah Zehri hadreached the Assembly Secretariat for talks, but the other remained absentand the meeting was not held.

“We are acting in line with the Constitution, but the former government iscreating hurdles,” Zehri had said. “Bizenjo wants amendments to theConstitution to make way for him to become chief minister for life…Balochistan will not entertain any more jokes.”