Daily Times

QUETTA: The political crisis in Balochistan escalated on Friday afternoon with the resignations of a provincial minister and chief minister’s adviser.

In the latest blow to the PML-N government in the province, newly appointed Adviser to Chief Minister on Excise and Taxation Majid Abro resigned on Friday.

Abro, who was appointed in place of Mir Amanullah Notezai after the latter signed the no-confidence motion against Chief Minister Nawab Sanaulah Zehri, sent his resignation to Governor Balochistan. Minister for Labour and Manpower Rahat Jamali also tendered her resignation amid speculations regarding more resignations to come soon.

A total of five PML-N members of the provincial cabinet have resigned so far, plunging the provincial government into a severe crisis.

Chief Minister Balochistan Sanaullah Zehri already faces a no-confidence motion in the provincial assembly. Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Thursday reportedly requested Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman to take back his support from the no-confidence motion. Sources said the premier met the JUI-F leader at his Islamabad residence along with SAFRON Minister Abdul Qadir Baloch.

The JUI-F leader reportedly presented his conditions to the premier regarding incumbent political setup in Balochistan, future provincial interim government and assurances on the issue of FATA’s merger with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

PML-N government in Balochistan led by Zehri faced a sudden crisis earlier this week when some treasury MPAs filed a no-confidence motion and important ministers and advisers – notably home minister Sarfraz Bugti and fisheries minister Sarfaraz Domki – switched camps, sparking a series of resignations and sackings.

Published in Daily Times, January 6^th 2018.