ISLAMABAD: The federal government has decided to lift governor’s rule in violence-ridden Balochistan province before March 14, the federal law minister said Friday.

Speaking to reporters outside the Parliament House here in Islamabad, Law Minister Farooq H Naek said that a new chief minister would be elected by the provincial government once governor's rule is lifted.

The provincial government in Balochistan, which has become a flash point for sectarian violence against ethnic Shia Hazaras, was suspended after a deadly bombing in Quetta claimed over ninety lives. It was the second such deadly attack in the city aimed at the ethnic minority in a month leading to widespread protests and demonstrations.

Sources in the Presidency had told Dawn on Thursday that a new political setup was likely to be installed in the province soon. They said first governor’s rule would be lifted and then a session of the provincial assembly would be called to elect a new chief minister as former CM Nawab Aslam Raisani had already resigned.

Naek told reporters today that the presidential order for the implementation of governor's rule in Balochistan would soon be withdrawn and that governor's ruled would not be ratified by Parliament.

The law minister said that, according to the constitution, a civilian government needs to be in place for the installation of a provincial caretaker setup before general elections.

Naek said that consensus between the provincial chief minister and opposition leader is necessary for an interim chief minister to be appointed.

He further said that all steps would be taken according to the constitution and that a date for the Balochistan assembly session would be announced soon.