Daily Times

LAHORE: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Tuesday advised Balochistan Chief Minister Sanaullah Zehri to resign in light of the no-confidence motion to be taken up against him in the provincial assembly, according to media reports.

After sizing up the political situation in the province, the PM advised the CM to step down in order to control the political crisis in the province.

The premier has also taken notice of the role of provincial lawmakers in the situation.

Abbasi had visited Quetta to persuade dissident PML-N leaders to support embattled Chief Minister Nawab Sanaullah Zehri.

Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Sardar Mehtab Abbasi, Zahid Hamid, Safron Minister Abdul Qadir Baloch and State Minister for Petroleum Jam Kamal were accompanied PM Abbasi on the occasion.

At least 14 Provincial Assembly lawmakers, including Zehri’s most trusted aide Home Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti, submitted a no-confidence motion against the CM on January 2. The move attracted more PML-N leaders and ministers and they also tendered resignations.

On Sunday, PM Abbasi also contacted JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman. The PM asked Fazlur Rehman for help regarding the no-confidence motion against Zehri. The JUI-F chief advised the PM to first resolve the issues facing his own party in Balochistan.