PTI govt negotiators fail to woo Mengal

Pervez Khattak says more talks will be held in the future

KARACHI: A government delegation on Saturday night met Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) chief Sardar Akhtar Mengal but failed to convince him to re-join the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led coalition, the Express News reported.

The delegation, comprising Defence Minister Pervaiz Khattak and Planning Minister Asad Umar met Mengal at his residence in the Parliament Lodges and requested him to withdraw the decision to part ways with the government.

Talking to media after the meeting, Mengal said that he could not violate the decision of the party “We have put our concerns before the government delegation,” he said. Responding to a question, the BNP-M chief said that Prime Minister Imran Khan had not contacted him directly so far.

Khattak said it was a routine meeting and hinted at further talks between the two sides. “Our meetings are regular. BNP’s reservations will be removed soon, there will be meetings with Sardar Sahib in the future also,” he said.

Asad said that talking about the rights of Balochistan was like talking about the rights of Pakistan. “The PTI believes that if every part of Pakistan does not get development and rights, the country will not be able to develop.”

On June 17, Mengal had announced during the debate on the budget in the National Assembly that his party was ending its alliance with the PTI.