QUETTA/LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) president Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on Sunday said that the no-confidence motion moved against Balochistan Chief Minister Sanaullah Zehri was meant to postpone the upcoming Senate elections.
Former deputy speaker Balochistan Assembly Mir Quddus Bizenjo had tabled the no-confidence resolution signed by 14 legislators.
The ruling PML-N, which has two-third majority in the parliament, is expected to get a visible majority by winning more than half of the seats in the Senate elections scheduled to be held in March. The Senate elections cannot be held till the electoral college, which consists of all the provincial assemblies, is complete. Earlier, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had also threatened to dissolve the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly.
On Sunday, MPA Sheikh Jaffar Mandokhail of the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) tendered his resignation. The number of ministers who have resigned so far has reached six. According to the dissenting group, more ministers are expected to resign in coming 24 hours. Mandokhail is visiting Saudi Arabia to perform umrah. He confirmed the resignation through his spokesperson.
Earlier on Sunday, Zehri called Nawaz Sharif on the phone to discuss the no-confidence motion against him. Sources said that Nawaz Sharif had assured him that he and his party would not accept any undemocratic move. Declaring the move a conspiracy to create rifts within the provincial government, Nawaz said that it was being done to postpone the Senate elections to stop the PML-N from obtaining a majority in the Upper House during the next parliamentary term.
Both the leaders also discussed some provincial political issues related to the current situation in detail. The role of PML-N ally Maulana Fazlur Rehman of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) was also discussed.
“Nawaz also expressed regret over some of his own political allies for being behind the current political situation in Balochistan. He also confirmed to Sanaullah Zehri that he would talk to the PM directly for resolving the issue personally,” sources said.
Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi will visit Quetta in the coming days to persuade dissident PML-N leaders to support embattled Chief Minister Nawab Sanaullah Zehri.
“The task to appease the PML-N lawmakers was given by Nawaz Sharif to the PM,” sources said. Prime Minister Abbasi will hold meetings with coalition partners, including Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai and National Party president Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo.
“PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi will visit [Quetta] to address grievances of PML-N legislators who are leaving CM Balochistan Nawab Sanaullah Khan Zehri. PML-N’s position in Balochistan is worsening day by day,” sources said.
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.
Federal Minister General (r) Abdul Qadir Baloch is already in Quetta to defuse the tense situation.
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.
Rehman maintained that PML-N itself had pushed the JUI-F towards the role of the opposition in the province. Fazlur Rehman asked the PM why it had taken his government four and a half years to contact them.
Leaders of JUI-F, Awami National Party (ANP) and Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) convened a joint meeting in Quetta on Sunday to review the prevailing political situation in the province.
Published in Daily Times, January 8th 2018.