Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP) President Shahzain Bugti announced the contest in the upcoming general elections in Balochistan against Sarfraz Ahmad Bugti, a former Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) leader and caretaker interior minister, will contest under the banner of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).
Shahzain Bugti, eyeing the chief minister’s position in Balochistan, emphasized the importance of consulting his constituents and adhering to local traditions in decision-making.
On the other hand, Sarfraz, who recently joined PPP, expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming polls with the support of the Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari-led party. Shahzain plans to run as a candidate from his native constituency, which now encompasses five districts, marking a significant increase in its geographical span. This constituency, NA-253, will play a crucial role in the elections.
Previously a special assistant to the prime minister in the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government, Shahzain Bugti left his position before a no-confidence motion against former prime minister Imran Khan. He later joined the Pakistan Democratic Government (PDM) as the federal minister for narcotics control.
Shahzain, the grandson of Nawab Akbar Bugti, carries a significant legacy in Balochistan’s politics, marked by his grandfather’s assassination during the General (retd) Pervez Musharraf-led government.