Mengal urges govt to address opposition’s reservations

Says PTI should have attended to concerns over 2018 elections

QUETTA: Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) chief and Member National Assembly Sardar Akhtar Mengal has blamed the federal government for anti-government riots in the country, adding that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf  (PTI) government should have timely addressed the opposition’s reservations and concerns over the 2018 general elections.

“Central government’s non-seriousness towards the opposition’s demands forced Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman to hold anti-government rallies,” said Mengal on Tuesday while talking to reporters in Sakran.

About BNP-M and PTI’s six-point accord on Balochistan, the former chief minister said the latter negotiated with the party over the agenda.

“This is not the first time. We have presented the same demands before to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government but they didn’t pay heed to us,” Mengal continued. “Fortunately the PTI negotiated with us and heard the voice of the people of Balochistan.”

“Prime Minister Imran Khan vouched to speak for the people of Balochistan and their interests.”

Mengal calls for unity to curb harassment cases

BNP-M chief said that the PM even described the demands as valid and necessary.

He said neither PML -N nor the PPP could solve Balochistan’s problems. The province has been weighed down by a myriad of issues for the last seventy years, he added. “But with sincere implementation on BNP’s demands the issues can be addressed,” the BNP-M chief said.

Mengal announced that he will meet Prime Minister Imran in the next few days to decide the future of the BNP-PTI alliance.

“I would inquire from the PM about the hurdles causing delays in the implementation of BNP’s six points. If he cannot implement them then we would part ways with the PTI in the centre,” affirmed Mengal.

Sharing his views on the University of Balochistan  (UoB) video scandal, Mengal claimed that student organisations have been protesting against the appointment of ex-vice chancellor for some time, the issue was also raised in the assembly but the then government ignored the severity of the case which resulted in the recent harassment and blackmailing scandal.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 30^th, 2019.