QUETTA: A deadlock persisted between Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan and a posse of disgruntled lawmakers belonging to his Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) ahead of the voting on the no-trust motion against him on Monday.
Reports suggest Khan and estranged members of his party both refused to show any flexibility over the matter.
Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani and Minister for Defense Pervaiz Khattak, who had reached Quetta to seek a solution to the crisis, are staying in the provincial capital and expected to hold meetings with both groups to resolve the matter later today.
The estranged lawmakers possess the required numbers in the House for the adoption of the no-confidence resolution against Khan with support from Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, Balochistan National Party-Mengal and the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party.
Khan in a tweet Saturday expressed gratitude to allied parties for their confidence in his person. “I have given my mandate to the BAP members and the allies. What they will decide in this scenario will be a better decision,” he said.
“I am ready to sit in the opposition if the PDM will form a government with the disgruntled members.”
“Those hungry for power and greed should enjoy their temptation. The PDM, estranged BAP members and the mafias will be responsible for any loss to the province,” the chief minister said.
The parliamentary leader of Balochistan National Party-Awami, Mir Asadullah Baloch, in his statement, said Khan has lost his majority in the House. “He should accept defeat and step down.”
“We have the support of 40 members of the House and will prove this in the session tomorrow (Monday),” Baloch said.
Khan had dispelled rumours regarding his resignation Saturday after a meeting between him, Khattak and Sanjrani held in Quetta.
Announcing a rebuttal, Khan took to Twitter and said: “I have not resigned and such rumours may not spread.”
According to people privy to the developments, Sanjrani and Khattak were at the Chief Minister House for hours and held a meeting with Khan.
A session of the House has been summoned on Monday for voting on the no-confidence motion against Khan.
