Shahwani predicts further division in PDM

Claims PML-N’s days in Balochistan are numbered

QUETTA:

Balochistan government spokesperson Liaquat Shahwani on Sunday predicted further division in the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM).

“PDM will be divided into more pieces after the Peshawar protest rally. Third stage of PDM in Quetta has already revealed their disputes and differences among leaders of the opposition alliance,” he said while speaking to the media in Quetta. “Political parties in Balochistan have become traditional and family parties.”

Criticising the narrative of deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif, he said that remarks of Chairman Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in an interview showed how divided the PDM narrative is. “Bilawal has shown no confidence in Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif.”

Shahwani further said the way PML-N has treated their provincial leader in Balochistan has clearly opened their real politics of interest. “Not only Sharif but other leaders also are responsible for the continued injustice with Balochistan. Now differences between three political factions of the opposition alliance have been exposed to the entire world.”

The provincial government spokesperson further claimed that Pakistan Muslim League will be eradicated from Balochistan as people of the province were already against the ideology of PML.

On the other hand, National Party Central President and former Chief Minister of Balochistan Dr Abdul Malik Baloch termed state interference in Balochistan politics as unacceptable under any circumstances.

“Nationalist and patriotic political culture will not be allowed to end in Balochistan,” he said. “Politics has been the focus of artificial leadership and the formation of political parties must be stopped. The local leadership of the National Party should play its role of relaying the party message from door to door,” Dr Baloch said while addressing his supporters in the Tehsil Aabsar.

It is pertinent to mention that President Muhammad Iqbal, Vice President Abdul Wahid Boheer, General Secretary Ehsan Darazai, Deputy General Secretary Abdul Majeed, Information Secretary Sanaullah Bizenjo, Finance Secretary Karim Jan Noor and Liaison Secretary Abdul Hameed were elected in Absar Tehsil elections.

The meeting was also addressed by Central Secretary General Jan Muhammad Baledi, Tehsil President Muhammad Iqbal and General Secretary Ehsan Darazai.

Addressing the meeting, Baledi said that the party needs to be active and organised all over Balochistan including Ketch district.

“The National Party is the national party of Balochistan. Due to our party, the political and national issues of Balochistan are being highlighted more seriously.”

Baledi further said that the issue of Balochistan was national and political but the idea of resolving the issue by force was negative as it would further aggravate existing problems.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 9^th, 2020.