| Sardar Sanaullah Khan Zehri | |
| Office: | 15th Chief Minister of Balochistan |
| Term Start: | 24 December 2015 |
| Term End: | 9 January 2018 |
| President: | Mamnoon Hussain |
| Primeminister: | Nawaz Sharif |
| Governor: | Muhammad Khan Achakzai |
| Predecessor: | Abdul Malik Baloch |
| Successor: | Abdul Quddus Bizenjo |
| Office1: | Senior Minister of Balochistan |
| Term Start1: | 7 June 2013 |
| Term End1: | 24 December 2015 |
| President1: | Mamnoon Hussain |
| Primeminister1: | Nawaz Sharif |
| Governor1: | Muhammad Khan Achakzai |
| 1Blankname1: | Chief Minister |
| 1Namedata1: | Abdul Malik Baloch |
| Office3: | Member of Senate of Pakistan (Senator) |
| Term Start3: | March 1997 |
| Term End3: | March 2000 |
| Constituency3: | Balochistan, Pakistan |
| Office4: | Member of the Provincial Assembly of Balochistan |
| Term Start4: | 13 August 2018 |
| Term End4: | 12 August 2023 |
| Constituency4: | PB-38 Khuzdar-I |
| Term Start5: | 2013 |
| Term End5: | 2018 |
| Constituency5: | PB-33 Khuzdar-I |
| Term Start6: | 2008 |
| Term End6: | 2013 |
| Constituency6: | PB-33 Khuzdar-I |
| Term Start7: | 2002 |
| Term End7: | 2007 |
| Constituency7: | PB-33 Khuzdar-I |
| Term Start8: | 1993 |
| Term End8: | 1996 |
| Constituency8: | PB-30 Khuzdar-I |
| Term Start9: | 1990 |
| Term End9: | 1993 |
| Constituency9: | PB-30 Khuzdar-I |
| Term Start10: | 1988 |
| Term End10: | 1990 |
| Constituency10: | PB-30 Khuzdar-I |
| Birth Date: | 1961 8, df=yes |
| Birth Place: | Khuzdar, Balochistan, Pakistan |
| Party: | Pakistan People's Party (2020-present) |
| Otherparty: | PMLN (2010-2020) National Party Pakistan (2001-2010) PMLN (1997-2001) Pakistan National Party (1990-1997) Independent (1988-1990) |
| Citizenship: | Pakistani |
| Nationality: | Pakistani |
| Children: | Sikander Khan Zehri (Son) Hamza Khan Zehri (Son) Izbal Zehri (Daughter) Ayesha Zehri (Daughter) |
| Parents: | Sardar Doda Khan Zehri (father) |
| Profession: | Politician, chief of Jhalawan, nawab of Zehri(Baloch) tribe |
| Cabinet: | Government of Balochistan, Pakistan |
| Education: | University of Balochistan |
Sardar Sanaullah Khan Zehri (Urdu: {{Nastaliq|نواب ثناء اللہ خان زہری; born 4 August 1961) is a Pakistani politician who had been the Chief Minister of Balochistan from 24 December 2015 to 9 December 2017. He belongs to Channal Zarakzai family and is also the Sardar of the Zehri tribe and chief of Jhalawan.[1] [2] Zehri was the central president of the Pakistan Muslim League's Balochistan branch and a confidant of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif[3] He left the PML-N on 7 November 2020.[4]
On 7 June 2013, Zehri was appointed senior minister of Balochistan with portfolios of communication works, mines, minerals. 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.[5]
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.[6] [7] He graduated with a BA degree in political science in 1983 from the University of Balochistan.[7]
Upon graduating from Balochistan University, he ran in the 1990 Balochistan Assembly general election, performing well on the PML(N)'s conservative platform.[6] During this time, he campaigned for local government in Balochistan.[6] In 1997, he contested and triumphed in a senate election, representing Balochistan until 1999. Zehri ran for the PB-50 (Khuzdar-I) 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.[8]
In 2008, the National Party boycotted the general election. Zehri disagreed with the move, leaving the party, and in February he won a seat in the assembly under his own, newly founded the National Party.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.[9]
On 6 January 2010, he joined the Pakistan Muslim League.[10] [11] In August 2011, Baloch was selected by PML(N) as the assistant secretary general of the PML-N for Balochistan.[10] [12]
In 2013, Zehri defended his constituency on PML-N's platform and was initially named as candidacy for Chief Minister of Balochistan.[13] However, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif instead approved the appointment of Abdul Malik Baloch as the chief minister of Balochistan.[13]
On 16 April 2013, Zehri escaped an assassination attempt[14] on his life when his convoy 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 (BLA), claimed responsibility for the attack on Zehri.[15]
On 23 November 2020, Sanaullah lost his daughter Ayesha Zehri allegedly due to COVID-19.[16]