ISLAMABAD: The ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) received another setback from Balochistan on Tuesday, as Independent MNA Mohammad Aslam Bhootani parted ways with it and announced its support for the opposition’s no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Aslam Bhootani, elected from Gwadar-Lasbela NA-272 constituency, announced the decision at a joint press conference with PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto, co-Chairman Asif Zardari, JUI-F’s Ghafoor Haideri, BNP-M Akhtar Mengal and PML-N’s Ayaz Sadiq.
Talking to journalists, Bhootani said that he has decided to leave the government alliance after meeting with Asif Zardari, whom he had “old family relations”.
Speaking on the occasion, Asif Zardari said that the opposition’s talks with allies and dissident PTI leaders were underway and hinted that more lawmakers would join the opposition in the coming days.
He disclosed that Chief Murad Ali Shah and Sindh cabinet would hold final talks with Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), a key ally of the ruling PTI in Centre. “MQM-P will vote in favor of no-confidence motion against PM Imran Khan as joint opposition negotiations with MQM has entered the final stage,” he claimed.
Bhootani had joined the PTI back in 2018 and served the party for three and a half years and became the MNA by securing 70,000 votes.
BAP announces support for Opposition
A day earlier, BAP Parliamentary Leader Khalid Magsi had said that his party would support the Opposition’s no-confidence motion. “We want the country to be handled anew. We want the issues to be resolved,” the BAP leader, whose party has four MNAs, said while addressing a press conference.
The setback came only a day after Special Assistant to PM (SAPM) on Reconciliation and Harmony in Balochistan and Jamhoori Watan Party leader Shahzain Bugti announced to part ways with the government and join the Opposition.
