ISLAMABAD: The Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) chief Sardar Akhtar Mengal told the government in a meeting that the PTI was not sincere with his party’s demands and “you remember us when you are in turmoil passing through a tough period”.
The remarks came as Prime Minister Imran Khan formed a coordination committee last month for resolution of issues pertaining to Balochistan, which met Mengal and other party leaders in Islamabad to discuss the BNP-M’s demands – including the issue of missing persons – to which the PTI had agreed at the time of government formation.
The notification about the committee says that the federal government, in its efforts to bring the Baloch political parties into mainstream politics and give them their due share in development spending, intend to establish an effective coordination mechanism to address the concerns of the Baloch people.
Defence Minister Pervaiz Khattak, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Establishment Mohammad Shahzad Arbab and National Assembly Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri are the committee members.
During the meeting, Mengal said the government gave importance to vote, not the people, as it was not interested in solving the issues of Baluchistan.
However, Khattak and Suri assured the BNP-M members of solving their grievances.
Meanwhile, Mengal has warned that they would not support their ally (PTI) in the budget process in the Parliament. The key development came after he and other party members met PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari the other day.
An official, who attended the meeting, told NayaDaur on the condition of anonymity, told NayaDaur that the PTI government once again came up with unfulfilled promises as they were not serious to address the demands agreed upon during the government formation.
When asked why the government now is taking BNP-M into confidence when the committee was last month, he replied “because they always show their faces in tough time”.
However, he didn’t respond when asked whether Mengal has promised the committee members of supporting the government.
The remarks came as Prime Minister Imran Khan formed a coordination committee last month for resolution of issues pertaining to Balochistan, which met Mengal and other party leaders in Islamabad to discuss the BNP-M’s demands – including the issue of missing persons – to which the PTI had agreed at the time of government formation.
The notification about the committee says that the federal government, in its efforts to bring the Baloch political parties into mainstream politics and give them their due share in development spending, intend to establish an effective coordination mechanism to address the concerns of the Baloch people.
Defence Minister Pervaiz Khattak, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Establishment Mohammad Shahzad Arbab and National Assembly Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri are the committee members.
During the meeting, Mengal said the government gave importance to vote, not the people, as it was not interested in solving the issues of Baluchistan.
However, Khattak and Suri assured the BNP-M members of solving their grievances.
Meanwhile, Mengal has warned that they would not support their ally (PTI) in the budget process in the Parliament. The key development came after he and other party members met PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari the other day.
An official, who attended the meeting, told NayaDaur on the condition of anonymity, told NayaDaur that the PTI government once again came up with unfulfilled promises as they were not serious to address the demands agreed upon during the government formation.
When asked why the government now is taking BNP-M into confidence when the committee was last month, he replied “because they always show their faces in tough time”.
However, he didn’t respond when asked whether Mengal has promised the committee members of supporting the government.