Mengal reaches Islamabad to meet PTI chief Imran Khan

The BNP-M chief will also hold talks with other leaders to discuss govt formation


APP August 02, 2018
Addressing a press conference in Quetta on Tuesday, Mengal likened the July 25 polls to the general elections of 1970 and demanded a commission to investigate the polls. PHOTO:FILE

QUETTA: Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) chief Sardar Akhtar Jan Mengal along with key party members on Wednesday flew to Islamabad where they will meet Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan in Bani Gala.

According to reports, Akhtar Mengal was invited to meet with Imran Khan regarding the formation of federal and provincial government by Jahangir Tareen.

BNP-M's chief will meet different political leaders including Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) central leader Syed Khursheed Shah, Awami National Party (ANP) chief Asfandyar Wali Khan and Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) President Maulana Fazlur Rehman in Islamabad during his visit. Nawabzada Lashkari Raisani, Advocate Sajid Tareen and other members of the party’s committee accompanied the BNP-M president.

Earlier, the BNP-M chief questioned transparency of the July 25 vote and said that the public’s mandate and election results differ in the province.

Addressing a press conference in Quetta on Tuesday, Mengal likened the July 25 polls to the general elections of 1970 and demanded a commission to investigate the polls.

Mengal urges verification, recounting on NA-272

“The election results were delayed for 72 hours – it has never happened before despite previous election commissions lacking resources. Such delaying tactics create doubts over the transparency of the electoral process,” he said. “Our mandate was stolen from at least 12 constituencies. The ECP has failed in its duty to guide the voters.”

The former Balochistan chief minister claimed that the results were a deliberate effort to prevent BNP from forming a government in the province.

BNP-M wants its chief minister, not BAP’s

He said that the party was open to either forming a government or sitting in opposition. Mengal said that BNP had been invited for dialogue by both PPP leader Khursheed Shah and PTI’s Jahangir Tareen. He revealed that the BNP had formed two committees – one to focus on the situation in the National Assembly and another for provincial legislature.

Mengal asserted that during the talks, BNP will stand by its stance, including that on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the ownership of resources such as oil and gas. “Our demand also includes building a cancer hospital in the province.” APP

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