Sanaullah Khan Zehri


Nawab Sanaullah Khan Zehri was the Chief Minister of Balochistan from 24 December 2015 to 9 December 2017. He belongs to Channal Zarakzai family and also the Nawab of the Zehri tribe and chief of Jhalawan. Zehri succeeded Abdul Malik Baloch as chief minister Balochistan, Pakistan on 24 December 2015 as part of the power sharing deal brokered in the resort town of Murree. Zehri is the central president of the Pakistan Muslim League's Balochistan branch and a confidant of ex Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
On 7 June 2013, Zehri was appointed senior minister of Balochistan with portfolios of communication works, mines, minerals and industries. On 9 January 2018, due to the imminence of a no confidence vote against him, Zehri resigned from his post as Chief Minister to prevent the brewing of a political crisis.

Biography

Nawab Sanaullah Zehri was born in Anjeera in the Khuzdar District, Balochistan, Pakistan, on 4 August 1961. His father, Sardar Doda Khan Zehri, was a tribal leader and an activist in the Pakistan Movement who played a crucial role in gathering Balochistan's support for the cause of Pakistan. He graduated with a BA degree in political science in 1983 from the University of Balochistan.
Upon graduating from Balochistan University, he ran in the 1990 Balochistan Assembly general election, performing well on the PML's conservative platform. During this time, he campaigned for local government in Balochistan. In 1997, he contested and triumphed in a senate election, representing Balochistan until 1999. Zehri ran for the PB-50 constituency on the National Party's platform during the 2002 general election. He served as the provincial minister of prisons and tribal affairs until 2003.
In 2008, the National Party boycotted the general elections. Zehri disagreed with the move, left the party, and in February he won a seat in the Assembly under his own, newly founded National Party Parliamentarians. In September 2006, Zehri participated in a loya jirga called by the Khan of Kalat, Mir Suleman Dawood Jan, following the death of Akbar Bugti.
On 6 January 2010, he joined the Pakistan Muslim League. In August 2011, Baloch was selected by PML as the assistant secretary general of the PML-N for Balochistan.
In 2013, Zehri defended his constituency on PML 's platform and was initially named as candidacy for Chief Minister of Balochistan. However, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif instead approved the appointment of Abdul Malik Baloch to be elevated as the Chief Minister of Balochistan.
On 16 April 2013, Zehri escaped an assassination attempt on his life when his convey came under a bomb attack in his native Khuzdar district. The attack killed his son, Sikander Zehri, brother Mir Meharullah Zehri and nephew Mir Zaid. The Balochistan Liberation Army, accepted responsibility for the attack on Zehri.
On 7 June 2013, Zehri was appointed senior minister of Balochistan.