–BNP-M chief says PM Imran has not contacted him directly over party’s reservations
–JUI-F’s Fazl welcomes Mengal’s decision to quit coalition, says it’s ‘a model for other PTI allies’
ISLAMABAD: A government delegation on Saturday night met Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) chief Sardar Akhtar Mengal but failed to convince him to re-join the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led coalition.
The delegation, comprising Defence Minister Pervaiz Khattak and Planning Minister Asad Umar met Mengal at his residence in the Parliament Lodges and requested him to withdraw the decision to part ways with the government.
Prime Minister Imran Khan had tasked the ministers to listen to the grievances of BNP-Mengal and convince him to reverse the decision, he had announced on the floor of the National Assembly the other day. During the meeting, Pervaiz Khattak and Asad Umar requested Sardar Akhtar Mengal to withdraw the decision but he refused to do so and thus the meeting remained fruitless.
Talking to media after the meeting, Mengal said that he could not violate the decision of the party “We have put our concerns before the government delegation,” he said. Responding to a question, the BNP-M chief said that Prime Minister Imran Khan had not contacted him directly so far.
He also said that his party was in contact with the opposition leadership and “distance between us is narrowing”.
Addressing reporters, Khattak said that the BNP’s reservations would be removed soon and there would be further meetings with Sardar Akhtar Mengal.
Asad Umar said that PTI believed that the country would not be able to make progress if every part of the country was not developed and given due rights.
‘RAY OF HOPE’:
Meanwhile, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has said that the BNP-M’s move to exit its alliance with the ruling PTI has come as “a ray of hope”.
Talking to Akhtar Mengal during a meeting on Sunday, Mengal said “we’re together in the opposition alongside the JUI-F in Balochistan”, adding that Rehman’s party was spread throughout Pakistan.
In response to the JUI-F leader’s question on whether the Balochistan-based party had become part of the opposition, Mengal said talks were ongoing.
“Rapprochement with the opposition is growing. The day we join the opposition, we will run the right opposition,” he said.
Rehman said his party had welcomed Akhtar Mengal’s decision to leave the government’s coalition. It “has birthed a ray of hope” and is “a model for other PTI allies”, he said.
“Other allies in the government should now speak out boldly,” the JUI-F chief said, adding that following a person against one’s conscience was not the mark of a respectable Pakistani.
“I hope Sardar sahab will convince other PTI allies that it is not a time to be supporting the government. Pakistan is drowning at the moment,” he added.
Fazl went on to comment on the country’s economic status and Prime Minister Imran Khan’s approval among the masses.
“When the budget goes negative so does the government’s popularity; the prime minister has no idea that his own popularity, too, has plummeted into the red territory,” he said.
“The current ruler’s popularity has crashed on the basis of his performance. The current ruler no longer has the right to impose himself [on the nation],” he said, adding that the incumbent premier must acknowledge his failure and resign immediately.
It may be recalled that Mengal recently announced his separation from the ruling coalition and the Jamhoori Watan Party of Nawab Shazain Bugti had also started considering splitting from the coalition. BNP-Mengal has four NA seats.
BNP-Mengal had decided to side with PTI after the 2018 general election, putting before the party leadership six major demands, which included recovery of the missing persons in Balochistan and implementation of the National Action Plan and repatriation of the Afghan refugees and mainstreaming of the province. It is pertinent to mention that before the separation of the BNP, the PTI government had 186 seats in the National Assembly with the support of all allies, which has now been reduced to 182 after the separation of the BNP-M. A simple majority of 172 members is required, which is still being maintained.
