Move against Zehri: PkMAP throws weight behind PML-N in Balochistan

• Achakzai asks political elements not to play in hands of non-political actors

QUETTA: Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) Chairman Mehmood Achakzai on Tuesday said that the no confidence motion against Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Sanaullah Zehri would not carry through.

Addressing a press conference here along with his party leaders, he said that his party would play its role as a key ally to fail the move for the removal of Sanaullah Zehri as the chief minister, as the country could not afford any political crisis.

Achakzai said that he and his party had always sided with the democratic forces in the country and they would try their best to fail the no-trust move against Chief Minister Zehri. He said that the political elements should not play in the hands of non-political actors.

Former prime minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif was the most popular leader in the country, he said, adding that he (Nawaz) and his daughter Maryam Nawaz should be supported by everyone for the betterment of the people.

Being a loyal member of the Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N), Chief Minister Zehri was implementing the programme of his party chief for the development of Balochistan, he said and added that the PkMAP stood with him and would make all-out efforts to fail the no-confidence move against him.

Commenting on US President Donald Trump’s recent accusations, Achakzai called for strengthening relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan in the face of the rising American threat. “We need unity in such circumstances,” he said. “Issues with Afghanistan need to be addressed to pave the way for confidence building measures between the two neighbours,” he suggested.

When asked about the country’s internal political crisis, Achakzai said it was an irony of fate that the political parties which struck deals with former military dictators were suggesting that there may be another National Reconciliation Order (NRO) on the horizon. Ending his address with a warning, he said that Nawaz Sharif would suffer politically if he stepped back from his stance now.

Senator Usman Karkar, Balochistan ministers Abdul Reheem Zairatwal, Nawab Ayaz Jugaizai, Ubaidullah Jan Babat, Sardar Mustafa Tareen and Dr Hamid Achakzai were present on the occasion. It may be mentioned that members of Balochistan Assembly Abdul Quddus Bizenjo and Agha Raza submitted the no-confidence motion signed by some 14 members at the assembly secretariat earlier in the day.

BIZENJO ANNOUNCES SUPPORT: Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo announced to support Chief Minister Sanaullah Zehri and would not take part of no-confidence motion against him. “We are part of collation government of Balochistan,” he said, adding that the National Party would show their solidarity with the chief minister.