Governor of Balochistan, Pakistan

The Governor of Balochistan is the head of the province of Balochistan, Pakistan. The post was established on 1 July 1970, after the dissolution of West Pakistan province and the end of One Unit. Under Pakistan's current parliamentary system, the governorship is a ceremonial position, as a symbol of the federation. The governor is appointed by the centre, whereas the principal head of the provincial government remains the elected Chief Minister of Balochistan.

Governor of Balochistan
Incumbent
Abdul Wali Kakar
since 3 March 2023
StyleThe Honorable (formal)
Reports toPresident of Pakistan
ResidenceGovernor House
SeatQuetta
NominatorPrime Minister of Pakistan
AppointerPresident of Pakistan
Constituting instrumentConstitution of Pakistan
Formation1 July 1970 (1 July 1970)
First holderRiaz Hussain
Websitegovernorbalochistan.gov.pk

Despite this, Balochistan has seen several periods of martial law or governor's rule where, in the absence of a chief minister, the governor exercised broad powers. As of March 2023, [[Malik Abd-ul-Wali Kakar] is serving as acting governor after the resignation of Syed Zahoor Ahmad Agha on 04 March 2023.[1]

The first governor of the province was Riaz Hussain (1970–1971). The longest-serving governor was Rahimuddin Khan (1978–1984).

Periods of governor's rule
Governor House in Quetta

After the dissolution of One Unit in 1970, Balochistan attained the status of a full province, administered by its first governor, General Riaz Hussain, pending general elections, which were held the same year. The left-wing National Awami Party (NAP) secured the highest number of votes in the province, whereas the ruling party at the centre, the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) under Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, secured none. The NAP ministry was however dismissed by Bhutto in 1973, and its senior leaders were imprisoned. Bhutto imposed governor's rule under Akbar Bugti, and military operations against tribal insurgents commenced in 1973.

After the Bhutto regime was overthrown in a military coup by General Zia-ul-Haq in 1977, the NAP leaders were released and the Chief Justice of the Balochistan High Court, Khuda Bakhsh Marri, became governor; the other chief justices also became governors of their corresponding provinces. Marri was replaced by General Rahimuddin Khan, who announced a general amnesty, ending military action in the province.

Governor's rule returned under military ruler Pervez Musharraf, who dissolved the provincial government in 1999, and for a brief period under the fourth PPP ministry in 2013, culminating in the dismissal of the provincial government under Aslam Raisani amid rising sectarian violence.[2]

Governor House

The seat of the Governor is located at Governor House, Quetta, constructed in 1888 during the British Raj. It was heavily damaged during the 1935 Quetta earthquake, but was repaired by the Viceroy of India, Lord Willingdon.

The Governor House was opened to the public in 2018, by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government.[3]

List of governors of Balochistan
List of governors of Balochistan
Term Portrait Name Took office Left office Tenure Affiliation
1 Riaz Hussain 1 July 1970 25 December 1971 1 year, 177 days Military
2 Ghous Bakhsh Raisani 26 December 1971 29 April 1972 125 days Pakistan People's Party
3 Ghaus Bakhsh Bizenjo 30 April 1972 14 February 1973 290 days National Awami Party
4 Akbar Bugti 15 February 1973 31 December 1973 319 days Jamhoori Watan Party
5 Ahmad Yar Khan (Khan of Kalat) 1 January 1974 5 July 1977 3 years, 185 days Independent
6 Khuda Bakhsh Marri 6 July 1977 18 September 1978 1 year, 74 days Independent
7 Rahimuddin Khan 19 September 1978 21 March 1984 5 years, 184 days Military
8 F. S. Lodhi 22 March 1984 7 July 1984 107 days Military
9 K. K. Afridi 18 November 1984 30 December 1985 1 year, 42 days Military
10 Musa Khan 30 December 1985 12 March 1991 5 years, 72 days Independent
11 Gul Mohammad Khan Jogezai 13 July 1991 18 July 1993 2 years, 5 days Independent
12 Sardar Abdur Rahim Durrani 19 July 1993 18 May 1994 303 days Independent
13 Imran Ullah Khan 19 May 1994 10 April 1997 2 years, 326 days Pakistan People's Party
14 Miangul Aurangzeb 22 April 1997 17 August 1999 2 years, 117 days Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz)
15 Sayed Muhammad Fazal Agha 18 August 1999 12 October 1999 Independent
16 Amir-ul-Mulk Mengal 25 October 1999 31 January 2003 Independent
17 Abdul Qadir Baloch 1 February 2003 10 August 2003 Independent
18 Owais Ahmed Ghani 11 August 2003 5 February 2008 Independent
19 Zulfikar Ali Magsi 28 February 2008 9 June 2013 5 years, 101 days Pakistan People's Party
20 Muhammad Khan Achakzai 14 June 2013 9 October 2018 5 years, 87 days Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party
21 Amanullah Khan Yasinzai 4 October 2018 7 July 2021 Independent
22 Syed Zahoor Ahmad Agha 9 July 2021 13 April 2022 278 days Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf
Mir Jan Muhammad Khan Jamali (Acting) 13 April 2022 03 March 2023 324 Days Balochistan Awami Party
23 Abdul Wali Kakar[4] 03 March 2023 Balochistan National Party (Mengal)

See also

References
  1. Shah, Syed Ali (2022-04-13). "Zahoor Ahmed Agha steps down as Balochistan governor". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 2022-07-28.
  2. Butt, Qaisar; Zafar, Mohammad (2013-01-13). "Balochistan emergency: Governor's rule imposed". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 2022-07-28.
  3. Zafar, Muhammad. "Balochistan Governor House opens doors to public". Express Tribune. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  4. "President Alvi appoints Abdul Wali Kakar governor Balochistan". The Express Tribune. 2023-03-03. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
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