QUETTA: Governor Balochistan Muhammad Khan Achakzai has called Balochistan Assembly’s special session today (Tuesday), in which the no- confidence motion against CM Sanaullah Zehri will be presented.
Earlier, an MPA belonging to Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid-e-Azam (PML-Q) Sheikh Jaffar Mandokhail left and joined the group that has tendered resignations following filing of a no-confidence motion against Balochistan Chief Minister (CM) Sanaullah Zehri.
Number of ministers who have resigned over issues with CM Zehri has reached six. According to the dissenting group comprising opposition members, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and PML-Q, the toll would increase in coming days.
On the other hand, leaders of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), Awami National Party (ANP) and Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) convened a joint meeting to review the prevailing political situation in the province.
The opposition in the Balochistan Assembly on Monday turned down an invitation for a meeting with Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, who is in Quetta in an effort to garner support for embattled Chief Minister Nawab Sanaullah Zehri.
“We have decided not to meet the PM”, Leader of the Opposition Maulana Abdul Wasey said, adding that he and his followers could not “ride two boats.”
A bigger blow for Zehri and the flailing PML-N was the refusal of some of its own members to meet the chief executive.
“We are at the point of no return,” Mir Sarfaraz Bugti, the former home minister for Balochistan, said. “I have a good relationship with the prime minister, but this is a political decision,” Bugti added.
Last week, 14 MPAs on the opposition benches filed a motion of no confidence against Zehri. The house comprises 65 members, and 33 members are required for a successful push against the incumbent chief minister.
According to media reports, 27 MPAs have expressed support for the move against Zehri so far, six MPAs short of the 33 required to make the move successful.
Published in Daily Times, January 9th 2018.
