NA-272: Bhootani all set to take on BAP president

Says an alliance could be made with Kamal but on a give and take policy

QUETTA: In a flurry of statements pointed at his general elections’ political opponent Balochistan Awami Party President Jam Kamal, former Balochistan Assembly speaker Aslam Bhootani has said that he has been contesting elections since 2002 and has the support of the people.
“I have been contesting elections because the people of Lasbela and Gwadar want me to,” said Bhootani while talking to the media.
The BAP president and Bhootani are going to battle it out for Lasbela and Gwadar’s NA-272 seat in the elections.
Bhootani said, “The option to step back exists no more as we want to move forward with the support of the people on July 25.”
He said a public representative would be elected on previous performances.

Face-to-face: Aslam Bhootani blames previous regime for Balochistan unrest

“We are determined and contesting the general elections with the support of the people of our constituency,” he said. “NA-272 will be won by Bhootanis because people are going to vote on performance.”
On Kamal’s political influence in the area, Bhootani said, “We believe in a political alliance, especially a Kamal-Bhootani alliance, in the better interest of the people of the area, but alliances are made on a give and take policy.”
Bhootani said that Kamal needed support of the “strong Bhootani family” as “we have been contesting elections for a long time with the support of the people”.
On PB-49 seat for which his elder brother Sardar Saleh Bhootani filed his nomination papers, Bhootani said, “The newly established constituency comprising Hub, Dhoraji and Gadani is the stronghold of the Bhootani family.  We are optimistic about his victory.”

Speaker Bhootani accused of smuggling arms

Bhootani strongly rejected rumours regarding his differences with his brother Saleh and said, “Indeed Saleh is supporting me on NA-272 as I am supporting him because we are family members.”
Bhootani pledged that if he got elected then what was happening in Gwadar would not happen and would not be repeated.
“People of Gawadar deserve all facilities. Our first priority will be to resolve Gwadar’s drinking water issue,” he promised.
He urged Kamal to review his decision and show some flexibility in making an alliance in the better interest of the people of the coastal belt of Balochistan.