The political crisis took a new turn in Balochistan as Opposition leader Nawabzada Tariq Magsi gained majority in the provincial assembly over Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani.
Per details, the resigned ministers of Balochistan have made a political alliance with the opposition.
Eight MPAs of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and 16 of Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) have also joined the opposition.
The new alliance has refused to accept name of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl’s (JUI-F) Maulana Wasay as leader of the opposition.
Sources said the political crisis in Balochistan had created difficulties for dissolution of the assembly.
The cabinet meeting, which was scheduled to be held on Sunday evening, was also postponed after the development.
On the other hand PPP Deputy Parliamentary Leader Ali Madad Jattak said the Balochistan Assembly would be dissolved on March 19 and interim setup would take place with consensus of all parliamentary parties.
Addressing a press conference on Sunday at Chief Minister’s Secretariat, Jattak assured all parliamentary groups that they would be taken on board on all affairs, including formation of interim setup. He said that we had also taken on board coalition partners, adding that no decision would be made without their consent and consensus interim set up would be in saddle.
Referring to the cabinet meeting, the minister said the government had support of 47 members and the cabinet and Balochistan Assembly meetings would be called soon.
He said the incumbent government had completed its tenure with coalition partners which would indeed provide an opportunity to democracy to further strengthen in the country.
Jattak added that on March 19, the Balochistan Assembly would be dissolved and interim set up would take place with the consult of both opposition and coalition partners. He said Chief Minister Aslam Raisani had met President Zardari in Islamabad and all his reservations had been removed.
The PPP leader added that the party would take disciplinary action against those members, including provincial president, who had violated party discipline by sitting on opposition benches.
“We would take up this issue with party leadership because still the PPP government is intact and the party provincial president and some other members joined opposition and harmed the party interest.”
Jattak said those claiming support of 40 members had spent last five years in the treasury, enjoyed perks and privileges, and had now suddenly announced to sit on opposition benches.
He said that they would file an application against these members in Election Commission. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Aslam Raisani said his government was sacked because of his principled stance over Reko Diq Project.
Talking to reporters, he said the provincial government had taken a principled stance over Reko Diq and Gwadar Port for five years, but his stand annoyed the rulers and under a pretext of law and order in Balochistan, they suspended his government.
The chief minister said the federal government sacked “my government so that it could hand over Gwadar Port to China in accordance with their desire”.
He added that he would send an advice to the governor regarding the dissolution of the provincial government on March 19.
