File Photo: BAP angry members addressing a press conference: Photo Quetta Voice

Syed Ali Shah:

Pakistan Tehrik e Insaf (PTI) is likely to be out of the Balochistan coalition government after Jamat ul Ulema e Islam (JUI) supremo Maulana Fazal ur Rehman put the former ruling party’s ouster as a condition for joining the government. 

“If we join the government then there has to be no PTI”, a key lawmaker from the JUI F told Daily Quetta Voice. He requested anonymity. The religious party, which has 12 lawmakers in the house of 65 is all set to join the coalition government in Balochistan soon. The provincial amir of the JUI Maulana Abdul Wasey is expected to have a crucial meeting with Chief Minister Balochistan, Mir Quddus Bizenjo tomorrow (Friday).

“Maulana categorically told us that there should be no PTI”, JUI lawmaker

“Maulana categorically told us that there should be no PTI”, the lawmaker mentioned while quoting the religious party chief. He however said, “We have no objection over Awami National Party (ANP) and Hazara Democratic Party (HDP)”.

The former ruling party has two ministers including Mir Naseebullah Marri and Mobeen Khilji and Sardar Babar Musakhail, the deputy speaker of the Balochistan Assembly. The party’s former provincial chief Sardar Yar Muhammad Rind has already distanced himself from party affairs a year ago.

Zamarak Achakzai of ANP and Khaliq Hazara of HDP are ministers

ANP’s Zamarak Achakzai is the provincial minister and Malik Naeem Bazai, is the parliamentary secretary. However, Khaliq Hazara of the HDP is also a minister in the Chief Minister Mir Quddus Bizenjo-led cabinet. The two parties were also the allies of former CM Balochistan Jam Kamal Khan.

Differences surfaced within the ANP as its parliamentary leader Asghar Khan Achakzai stood by Jam Kamal Khan, the old ally when Mr. Bizenjo and opposition parties submitted a no-confidence motion. However, Zamarak Achakzai and Malik Naeem Bazai remained in the Bizenjo’s camp to maintain their powers.

CM Bizenjo is expected to withdraw portfolios from two  PTI ministers and some BAP ministers to accommodate the religious party in the coalition government. In this whole situation, there has been no word from the Balochistan National Party (Mengal), another key opposition party that supported Mr. Bizenjo against Jam Kamal Khan.

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Quetta Voice is an English Daily covering all unfolding political, economic and social issues relating to Balochistan, Pakistan's largest province in terms of area. QV's main focus is on stories related to education, promotion of quality education and publishing reports about out of school children in the province. QV has also a vigilant eye on health, climate change and other key sectors.