Daily Times

The no-confidence motion filed in the Balochistan Assembly against Chief Minister Mir Quddus Bizenjo failed on Thursday as the movers could not produce the required majority in the house.

According to the Constitution, a no-confidence motion needs the signatures of 20 per cent of the make-up of the legislative body to be tabled for discussion, while half the members must vote in favour of it to be passed. In the 65-member Balochistan Assembly, a no-confidence motion requires 33 lawmakers’ backing to be passed.

The motion bore the signatures of 14 lawmakers when it was submitted to the assembly last Wednesday. However, upon its tabling, the support was reduced to 11 legislators against the requirement of a minimum of 13 MPAs. The motion had the signatures of 14 lawmakers, including Bizenjo’s predecessor Jam Kamal Khan Alyani of the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) – who had resigned when a similar motion was filed against him last year.

The other lawmakers had included Zahoor Buledi (BAP), Mohammad Arif (BAP), Asghar Khan Achakzai (ANP), Saleem Ahmed (BAP), Malik Naeem Bazai (ANP), Nawabzada Tariq Magsi (BAP), Mitta Khan Kakar (BAP), Bibi Fareeda (PTI), Mir Naimatullah Zehri (PTI), Mobeen Khan Khilji (PTI), Sardar Sarfaraz Chakar Domki (BAP) and Shaheena (ANP).

However, in a setback to Alyani and his group, PTI’s Khilji, BAP’s Magsi and ANP’s Bazai did not turn up for the session. Deputy Speaker Sardar Babar Khan Mosakhel presided over the session today that began after a five-hour delay. Talking to the media after the session, Alyani said he already knew his group lacked the required numbers, adding that “our purpose was to bring to light a number of things.” He said the future course of action will be decided after consultation with the allies. “I am also the president of the BAP, and so the members violating the law will be served a show-cause notice.” Alyani said he would speak to the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) leaders in Islamabad, adding that he had already spoken to fellow BAP leader Khalid Magsi to ask the government about its “silence” on the matter. “Why did they not honour their promise made with us?”

Meanwhile, BAP’s Zahoor Buledi accused the federal government of indulging in corruption at a “high-scale”. Asad Baloch from the treasury benches hit out at Alyani, claiming that he tried to “harm the government” before the budget but “could not succeed”.