Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday appointed Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP) chief and MNA Shahzain Bugti as his special assistant on reconciliation and harmony in Balochistan.
The Cabinet Division, in a notification, said: "The Prime Minister [...] has been pleased to appoint Nawabzada Shahzain Bugti MNA as Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Reconciliation and Harmony in Balochistan, with immediate effect. He shall hold the status of Federal Minister."
The appointment comes on the heels of the government working on holding talks with "disgruntled" Baloch leaders who are not associated with India.
Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry, a day earlier, had said Balochistan would soon be a "cradle of peace" in the country, adding that those involved in Lahore's Johar Town blast — who the government earlier said have links with India — have been arrested by authorities.
PM Imran Khan, two days back, had said he was mulling over speaking to the insurgents in Balochistan, as the situation in the province had changed, and Pakistan was moving towards a better future.
The premier, addressing an event in Gwadar, had said the insurgents might be upset with the state due to some past grievances or India might have used them to spread terror in Pakistan.
The newly appointed SAPM was elected from Dera Bugti's NA-259 constituency. His party is also an ally of the PTI-led government in the Centre.
