Bhootani assures Imran of full support in forming govt at Centre

Winner of NA-252 seat says Imran told him his assistance will help PTI in achieving its agenda

QUETTA: Winner of NA-272 Lasbela-cum-Gwadar as an independent candidate Aslam Bhootani on Tuesday met Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan and assured him of his support in formation of the government at the Centre.

The meeting took place at the PTI chief’s Bani Gala residence in Islamabad.



Bhootani told The Express Tribune via telephone that Imran told him (Bhootani) that his support would help the PTI in achieving its agenda.

Bhootani said that he told the PTI chief that he would have his full support as an independent candidate, but he (Bhootani) won’t be joining the PTI.

Bhootani has been elected by the people of Gwadar, the central point of the multi-billion dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project, to lead them in these trying times as they lack basic facilities such as clean water, electricity, hospitals and educational institutes among others.



Bhootani hopes that with the support of the federal government he would be better able to address the issues of the people of Lasbela and Gwadar.

He sounded optimistic while saying that the federal government would also help in convincing China to develop Balochistan under the CPEC.

The support of experienced candidates is essential for the upcoming government of Imran to survive and in this regard the winner from NA-272 constituency can prove a milestone as Bhootani has an experience of nearly 10 years serving in assemblies. He has served as deputy speaker Balochistan Assembly from 2002 to 2007 and speaker from 2008 to 2013 in quite challenging times.



His constituency may be the last in the cardinal numbers but has great importance due to the CPEC.

Bhootani’s family has been winning the same seat since 1977. They have won 10 times. This time Bhootani defeated Balochistan Awami Party President Jam Kamal and Balochistan National Party-Mengal chief Akhtar Mengal contesting the elections for the NA-272 Lasbela-cum-Gwadar seat.