QUETTA – Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Tuesday reportedly asked Balochistan Chief Minister Sanaullah Zehri to resign in order to control the rising political tension in the province.
Media reports suggest that the prime minister said that tendering resignation was better than being ousted through a motion of no-confidence. He also took notice of the role of PML-N legislators in the prevailing tension.
Meanwhile, Balochistan CM’s spokesperson has denied such reports.
The no-confidence motion against Chief Minister Sanaullah Zehri is likely to be tabled in the provincial assembly today (Tuesday).
As a heated session is expected to be held, the Balochistan Assembly speaker has imposed a ban on the live coverage of assembly’s proceedings and use of mobile phones.
The motion, which was submitted on January 2 by Mir Abdul Quddus Bizenjo and Syed Agha Raza, was signed by a total of 14 parliamentarians, to be taken up by the assembly at 4pm today.
In order to dismiss the motion, the provincial chief executive need to get 33 votes from a house of 65 members.
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) came in action, but at the last minute, has stepped up effort to save its coalition government in Balochistan.
On Monday, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi visited Quetta and presided over a meeting of members of coalition parties to make safe passage. He also held a meeting with governor and CM of Balochistan during the visit.
Federal ministers Ahsan Iqbal, Zahid Hamid, Abdul Qadir Baloch and Aviation Adviser Sardar Mehtab Abbasi State Minister for Petroleum Jam Kamal also attended the meeting.
Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) representative and provincial lawmaker Abdul Quddus Bizenjo are confident about its success claiming that as many as 40 legislators will vote against Zehri.
Bizenjo further said that PML-N leader Changez Marri has also rendered his support for the no-confidence motion that will compel Zehri to walk out of the CM house.
On the other hand, a spokesperson for the Balochistan chief minister said that those claiming to have the support of 40 MPAs could not gather more than 20 legislators at their recently held dinner meeting.
Earlier on Sunday, Zehri contacted Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz President Nawaz Sharif and tried to enlist his support in the time of crisis.
According to sources, Zehri warned Nawaz that a no-confidence motion against him could have an impact on the results of the upcoming general elections.
Moreover, federal ministers Khurram Dastagir and Abdul Qadir Baloch, and Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai also called on Zehri to discuss the present political situation, law and order and other affairs.
Dastagir assured Zehri of support from the federal government and the PML-N.
Following the motion, chief minister’s adviser Prince Ahmad Ali Ahmadzai, Fisheries Minister Mir Sarfraz Domki and Home Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti submitted their resignations.
Two more resignations by a provincial minister and the chief minister’s adviser shook up the political landscape of Pakistan’s biggest province by land.
