QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch tendered his resignation on Wednesday to Governor Muhammad Khan Achakzai, in accordance with the ‘Murree Accord’.

“As per the Murree agreement, I have stepped down from the post of chief minister,” Dr Malik Baloch said after submitting his resignation.

The officials at the Governor House confirmed that Achakzai has accepted Dr Malik Baloch’s resignation.

The ruling Pakistan Muslim League–Nawaz (PML-N) has already nominated its provincial chief Nawab Sanaullah Zehri to be the next chief minister of Balochistan.

PML-N, National Party and Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) signed an agreement in Murree soon after the May 11 general elections, called the ‘Murree Accord’.

According to its terms, December 4 this year was supposed to be the last day of Dr Malik Baloch as the chief minister of Balochistan, following which a PML-N nominee was to take over for the next two-and-a-half years.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, PkMAP Chairman Mehmood Khan Achakzai, Senator Hasil Bizenjos were the signatories of the agreement.

“We have handed over the chief minister’s slot to our partners,” Senator Bizenjo said.

In the meantime, the deputy speaker Balochistan Assembly, Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo also submitted his resignation on Wednesday evening.

The deputy speaker, who belongs to Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid submitted his resignation with the assembly’s secretariat.

“I have resigned as deputy speaker for person reasons,” Bizenjo told media. After the resignation of former speaker Jan Muhammad Jamali, Bizenjo was appointed as the acting speaker of Balochistan Assembly. With his resignation, the post of speaker and deputy speaker are now vacant.

Sources in ruling PML-N said that Rahila Durrani is likely to become the new Speaker of Balochistan Assembly. Durrani was elected as an MPA on reserved seat in Balochistan Assembly. She was provincial minister during former chief minister Nawab Aslam Raisani led government in Balochistan.

The assembly session is likely to be convened soon to a elect speaker and a deputy speaker. A leader of the House will then be elected in Balochistan.