ISLAMABAD: The Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), a key government ally, has announced its support to joint opposition’s no-confidence motion filed against Prime Minister Imran Khan in National Assembly.
The announcement was made by BAP’s parliamentary leader Nawabzada Mir Khalid Khan Magsi in a press conference alongside opposition leaders Shehbaz Sharif, Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Asif Ali Zardari.
“We want the country to be handled in a new manner. We want the issues to be resolved,” the BAP leader said, lamenting that Balochistan has been deprived and the party wanted the province’s issues to be addressed.
— PML(N) (@pmln_org) March 28, 2022
Taking over the presser, PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif said: “We thank BAP lawmakers from the bottom of our heart for supporting opposition we value their decision and assure them of our full support.”
He added that the government which will be formed after the “success of no-confidence motion” will address the grievances of the people of Balochistan.
Speaking on the occasion, PPP co-chairman Zardari said that Shahbaz Sharif “will soon become the prime minister” of the country. He further said that BAP has taken a decision in the “best interest” of Pakistan.
For his part, BNP-M chief Akhtar Mengal said the incumbent government has ignored Balochistan and did not pay attention to the province’s issues. “Instead of paying attention to our issues, they made fun of us,” he said.
However, BAP leader and Minister for Defence Production Zubaida Jalal has not parted ways with the government and will vote against the no-confidence motion.
The setback come 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 side with the Opposition.
Rifts have also emerged in the PML-Q as Federal Minister for Housing and Works Tariq Bashir Cheema has resigned from office and decided to vote in favour of the no-confidence motion against PM Imran Khan.
Buzdar submits resignation
Earlier in the day, the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) has announced PML-Q leader Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi as its candidate for Punjab chief minister after incumbent Usman Buzdar presented his resignation to the prime minister.
Prime minister’s aide on political communication, Shahbaz Gill, made the announcement on Twitter. Later, State Minister Farrukh Habib confirmed that Buzdar had presented his resignation to the prime minister.
These big developments came less than an hour after the opposition formally tabled a no-confidence resolution against PM Imran in the National Assembly.
