‘De-seating Senate chairman will hurt Balochistan’

CM Kamal says BAP will use all its resources to stop no-confidence move against Sanjrani

ISLAMABAD: Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal, who is also the president of the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), on Sunday said his province already had little representation at the federal level and a no-confidence motion against Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani would add to the sense of deprivation among the people of the province.

“The BAP will use all its resources to stop a no-confidence motion against the Senate chairman,” Kamal said at a news conference at Balochistan House in Islamabad after meeting Sanjrani at his residence.

“I am sure that the political parties of Balochistan will oppose the move against the Senate chairman,” he added.

“The office of the Senate chairman has immense constitutional value and it shouldn’t be politicised.”

Kamal said he could not understand what message some people wanted to give to the people of Balochistan by de-seating Sanjrani.

Zardari unlikely to contest election of Senate chairperson

“Balochistan is a sensitive province. The BAP hopes that all parties, which had voted for Sanjrani because he is from Balochistan, will reconsider their stance on the issue. He should be allowed to complete his tenure.”

Kamal said opposition parties should think about Balochistan instead of focusing on political disagreements with an individual.

“Removing the Senate chairman from his post will send a wrong message to the people of the province,” he maintained.

The Balochistan chief minister was accompanied by Federal Minister Azam Swati, Senator Mirza Khan Afridi, Senator Ahmed Khan and Federal Minister Zubeda Jalal when he met the Senate chairman.

‘Zardari not eyeing slot’

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has said Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari was unlikely to contest the election for the Senate chairman seat. "I don't think he [Asif Ali Zardari] will run for the seat," he told reporters in Sehwan.

He said Zardari had the incumbent chairman Sadiq Sanjrani elected during the previous government of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz. "Zardari sahib does what he says," said Shah referring to his party's position on de-seating Sanjrani. The chief minister said the opposition would nominate some other candidate for the seat.

With additional input from APP