National Party (Pakistan)

Summary

The National Party (Urdu: نيشنل پارٹی) is a social-democratic, centre-left political party in Pakistan. It is one of the largest parties active in the province of Balochistan, Pakistan, along with the Balochistan National Party. It traces its legacy from the Kalat State National Party of Mir Ghaus Bakhsh Bizenjo, Mir Gul Khan Nasir and Mir Abdul Aziz Kurd, and is currently headed by Abdul Malik Baloch.

National Party
نيشنل پارٹی
AbbreviationNP
PresidentAbdul Malik Baloch
Secretary-GeneralJan Muhammad Buledi
FoundersAbdul Hai Baloch
Abdul Malik Baloch
Hasil Bizenjo
Founded2003
Merger ofBalochistan National Democratic Party[1] (BNDP)
Balochistan National Movemment (Hayee)[1] (BNM-H)
HeadquartersQuetta, Balochistan, Pakistan
Student wingBaloch Students Organization (Pajjar)
IdeologySecularism
Social democracy
Baloch nationalism
Civic nationalism
Political positionCentre-left
National affiliationPakistan Democratic Movement
International affiliationProgressive Alliance
Senate
2 / 100
National Assembly
1 / 336
Balochistan Assembly
4 / 65
Election symbol
Saw[2]
Party flag

Founding edit

N.P was established in October 2003 when the non-tribal, essentially middle-class Balochistan National Democratic Party (BNDP) led by Hasil Bizenjo, son of the Baloch nationalist Ghaus Bakhsh Bizenjo, merged with the non-tribal middle-class nationalist party Balochistan National Movemment (BNM) led by Dr. Abdul Hai Baloch. It is considered to be the successor of the Kalat National Party. Abdul Hai Baloch became the first chairman of the National Party and Hasil Bizenjo became the secretary general of the new party.[3] In 2008, Abdul Malik Baloch was elected as the party president, and was the Chief Minister of Balochistan between 2013 and 2015.

Electoral history edit

Election boycott edit

The party boycotted the 2008 general elections as a protest against the military operation being conducted in the province at the time. However, Sanaullah Zehri and his followers decided to contest elections forming a faction called NP Parliamentarians.[4] As a result, National Party won one provincial assembly seat with Sanuallah Zehri winning PB-33 Khuzdar-I.

Election 2013 edit

The party participated in General elections of 2013 and secured victory on 11 seats of Balochistan Provincial Assembly and 1 seat of National Assembly. The government was formed in coalition with PKMAP and PML(N), with the party's MPA and then president Dr Abdul Malik Baloch heading the government as Chief Minister Balochistan. Now Hasil Bezenjo is the president after 4th National Congress held in Quetta in November 2015.

Congress 2014 edit

The 4th congress of National Party was conducted on 8–10 November 2014 in which the elections were conducted by Abdullah Dayo who was assigned as the Chief Election Commissioner of the party where Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo[5][6][7] was elected party president, Dr. Yasin Baloch as Secretary General and Dr. Hassan Nasir as Deputy Secretary General. The congress also determined the program to organize party all across Pakistan. The party's constitution was also revised. Syed Mukhtar Bacha was elected as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Organizer, Ayub Malik as Punjab's Organizer and Ramzan Memon as Sindh's Organizer.

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Smokers' Corner: The Baloch electoral enigma". Dawn (newspaper). 7 April 2013. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  2. ^ "Pakistan Election 2018: List of Political Parties and their Symbols for General Election 2018". The News International. 3 July 2018.
  3. ^ Ahmed, Sarfaraz (4 October 2004). "Balochistan can only be resolved by either amending the Constitution or drafting a new social contract". Daily Times. Archived from the original on 6 June 2011.
  4. ^ Ejaz Khan, Muhammad (6 February 2008). "Balochistan polls: divisions of different kind". The News International.
  5. ^ "Imran Khan inches closer to form govt as Oppn demands re-election in Pak". Outlook India. 28 July 2018.
  6. ^ "Pak's multi-party conference demands re-election". ANI News. 28 July 2018.
  7. ^ "Senator Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo called on Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif at PM House". Prime Minister's Office. 25 April 2016.

External links edit