Former Chief Minister of Balochistan Mir Jan Mohammad Jamali Proposes Direct Senate Elections

Quetta:Former Chief Minister of Balochistan and ex-Deputy Chairman of the Senate, Mir Jan Mohammad Jamali, has suggested the adoption of direct Senate elections in Pakistan, akin to the American model. Speaking at his residence in Quetta during a discussion with senior journalists, led by Agha Niaz Mengal, from Nasirabad, Jamali criticized the current indirect election system where Assembly members trade votes for millions of rupees, which tarnishes Pakistan’s international image. He emphasized that elected representatives often lack direct accountability to the public. Addressing foreign policy challenges, Jamali highlighted discrepancies in Pakistan’s relations with neighboring countries, especially China, and stressed the need for positive changes in Pakistan’s foreign policy to overcome failures and difficulties on all fronts. Regarding the development of Gwadar Port, he noted that excessive taxes hinder its success compared to Chabahar Port in Iran, where low taxes attract substantial investments. Jamali underscored the importance of integrating Balochistan more effectively into the CPEC framework, lamenting historical neglect in the province despite its potential benefits from national projects like CPEC.