Ex-CM rubbishes murder allegations

Sanaullah says he did not attack his uncle Amanullah when he was CM, so how could he do it now

QUETTA: Former chief minister of Balochistan Nawab Sanaullah Zehri has rejected allegations levelled against him of his involvement in the killing of Nawab Amanullah Zarakzai and his grandson.

“Amanullah Zarakzai was nominated in the killing of my sons but neither I nor my family members are involved in his and his grandson’s murder,” Sanaullah said while addressing a news conference on Wednesday in Khuzdar and added, “I reject all allegations against me and my family”.

He announced convening a tribal jirga comprising Jhalawan and Sarawan tribes to unveil ‘conspiracies’ being hatched against him and his tribe.

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Talking about Sardar Akhtar Mengal, Sanaullah said the Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) chief did not play any role in defusing tensions in the area but was rather adding fuel to the fire.

He claimed, “When I was the chief minister, I did not attack my uncle Amanullah Zarakzai, so how could I do this when I am not in power”.

“People of Balochistan know that the anti-terrorism court nominated slain Amanullah Zarakzai in the murder of my sons but being the senior provincial minister and then chief minister, I did not use my influence in court’s proceedings.”

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He criticised Akhtar Mengal for just offering condolence with the family of slain Amanullah and not meeting the people of Zarakzai tribe in Norgama town. He accused the BNP-M chief of inciting hatred among the Zarakzai tribe.

“Mengal has crossed all limits but his vicious ambitions against Zehri tribe cannot ignite bloodshed in Balochistan,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 23^rd, 2019.