Governor of Balochistan, Pakistan

The Governor of Balochistan is the head of the province of Balochistan, Pakistan. The post was established on 1 July 1970, after the dissolution of West Pakistan province and the end of One Unit. Under Pakistan's current parliamentary system, the governorship is a ceremonial position, as a symbol of the federation. The governor is appointed by the centre, whereas the principal head of the provincial government remains the elected Chief Minister of Balochistan.

Despite this, Balochistan has seen several periods of martial law or governor's rule where, in the absence of a chief minister, the governor exercised broad powers. As of March 2023, Abdul Wali Kakar is serving as acting governor after the resignation of Syed Zahoor Ahmad Agha on 4 March 2023.

The first governor of the province was Riaz Hussain (1970–1971). The longest-serving governor was Rahimuddin Khan (1978–1984).

Periods of governor's rule
After the dissolution of One Unit in 1970, Balochistan attained the status of a full province, administered by its first governor, General Riaz Hussain, pending general elections, which were held the same year. The left-wing National Awami Party (NAP) secured the highest number of votes in the province, whereas the ruling party at the centre, the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) under Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, secured none. The NAP ministry was however dismissed by Bhutto in 1973, and its senior leaders were imprisoned. Bhutto imposed governor's rule under Akbar Bugti, and military operations against tribal insurgents commenced in 1973.

After the Bhutto regime was overthrown in a military coup by General Zia-ul-Haq in 1977, the NAP leaders were released and the Chief Justice of the Balochistan High Court, Khuda Bakhsh Marri, became governor; the other chief justices also became governors of their corresponding provinces. Marri was replaced by General Rahimuddin Khan, who announced a general amnesty, ending military action in the province.

Governor's rule returned under military ruler Pervez Musharraf, who dissolved the provincial government in 1999, and for a brief period under the fourth PPP ministry in 2013, culminating in the dismissal of the provincial government under Aslam Raisani amid rising sectarian violence.

Powers of Governor
Governor is a ceremonial head of the Province appointed by the President on advice of Prime Minister and serves until removed by President on advice of Prime Minister.

Governor is chancellor of public sector universities of province.

Governor appoints cabinet and take oath from elected chief minister and cabinet.He also appoint caretaker Chief Minister and Care Taker Cabinet and take oath from them.

Governor signs bills passed by Provincial Assembly of Balochistan than bills becomes law.

He also signs provincial budget passed by Provincial Assembly.

He can also promulgate ordinances when he is satisfied that Assembly is not in session but only on advice of cabinet.

He is bound to act on advice of cabinet and Chief Minister.

He also took oath from Chief Justice of Balochistan High Court.

He appoints Advocate General of Province on the advice of chief minister.

He appoints Chairman of Balochistan Public Service Commission on advice of Chief Minister.

He appoints Provincial Mohtasib Balochistan.

He can also impose governor rule on the Province after advice from the President and Federal Cabinet but in emergency situations.

He signs notifications and orders promulgated by the cabinet or respective departments.

He can dissolve provincial assembly on the advice of chief minister. He can also dissolve provincial assembly at his discretion when vote of no-confidence has been passed against the Chief Minister, no other member of the Provincial Assembly is likely to command the confidence of the majority of the members of the Provincial Assembly in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution, as ascertained in session of the provincial Assembly summoned for the purpose.

He has the right to address in Provincial Assembly.

He can summon and prorogue the sessions of Provincial Assembly of Balochistan.

When he is satisfied that the chief minister does not command the confidence of the majority of members of the provincial assembly he can ask the chief minister to take a vote of confidence of the majority of members of the assembly. When the chief minister fails to take confidence vote. The governor can remove him and appoint a chief minister who has majority support in the assembly.

Governor House
The seat of the Governor is located at Governor House, Quetta, constructed in 1888 during the British Raj. It was heavily damaged during the 1935 Quetta earthquake, but was repaired by the Viceroy of India, Lord Willingdon.

The Governor House was opened to the public in 2018, by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government.

Government
The province was administered by a Chief Commissioner appointed by the Federal Government. Although there was no elected legislature the Chief Commissioner could consult the Shahi Jirga, an assembly of tribal leaders.

The province is composed of three groups of areas – the settled districts, the political agencies, and the tribal area. The settled areas were mainly the districts around Quetta and Jaffarabad. The agencies were the Zhob agency to the north of Quetta and the Chagai agency to the west, which had a tenuous land link with the rest of the province. The tribal areas were the Bugti and Marri tribal agencies which would later become Provincially Administered Tribal Areas in the new Balochistan province.

see List of Chief Commissioners of Baluchistan