-
PML-N president sees move as part of a plan to disturb Senate polls; says undemocratic behaviour not to be accepted
-
PM likely to meet Achakzai, Bizenjo in Quetta; to appease dissident PML-N leaders, collation partners
LAHORE/QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Sanaullah Zehri on Sunday contacted former prime minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, seeking his help in defeating a no-confidence motion against him in the provincial assembly, a private TV channel reported.
During the phone call, Chief Minister Zehri apprised Nawaz Sharif of the political situation in Balochistan and requested his help regarding the political crisis unfolding in the province. Last week, some treasury lawmakers filed a no-confidence motion against the chief minister and important ministers and advisers switched camps, sparking a series of resignations and sackings.
The coalition partners, the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) and the National Party (NP), publicly offered the chief minister some words of support. Calling the no-confidence motion a conspiracy, Nawaz told Zehri that the moves were a part of a plan to disturb Senate elections, scheduled for March.
According to the source, the former prime minister assured the chief minister that undemocratic behaviour would not be accepted and that the people’s mandate was the first priority of PML-N. According to experts, even the dissolution of the Balochistan Assembly would have no impact on the Senate elections as they will go ahead on time.
Unless the Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assemblies are also dissolved, 11 missing senators from Balochistan, in case of the assembly’s dissolution, will only play a role if a closely fought battle is experienced for the chairman and deputy chairman positions of the upper house.
PM LIKELY TO VISIT QUETTA: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi is expected to visit Quetta soon to persuade dissident PML-N leaders to support Chief Minister Zehri. Nawaz Sharif has assigned the task of appeasing the party lawmakers to the prime minister.
It is expected that Prime Minister Abbasi will hold a meeting with collation partners, including PkMAP chief Mehmood Achakzai and National Party President Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo. The prime minister is also in contact with JUI-F chief Fazlur Rehman in a bid to seek his support to foil the no-confidence move. Federal Minister Abdul Qadir Baloch has already arrived in Quetta.
On the other hand, MPA belonging to Pakistan Muslim League-Q Sheikh Jaffar Mandokhail became the newest addition on Sunday to the group that has tendered resignation following the filing of a no-confidence motion against the chief minister. The number of ministers who have resigned over issues with the chief minister has hit six. Mandokhail has confirmed the resignation through his spokesperson while observing that he stands with his party and fellow members.
