No-trust vote to be tabled on Oct 20: Speaker Bizenjo

Claims to have majority in Balochistan Assembly against CM Kamal

QUETTA:

The Balochistan Assembly speaker and disgruntled BAP members, who seek the resignation of the provincial chief minister, have said that the no-confidence motion would be tabled in the assembly on October 20 as per the constitutional requirement.

“We have majority in the no-confidence motion against the chief minister,” Abdul Quddus Bizenjo said while talking to the media outside the airport on Friday.

He was accompanied by Acting BAP President Mir Zahoor Buledi, spokesperson Member Provincial Assembly Sardar Abdul Rehman Khetran.

“The chief minister is adamant that he wants to fight the no-confidence motion instead of resigning. The whole situation will become clear in the assembly session as to who has the majority. Our group members are united,” they said. “People close to the chief minister are in touch with us. Their people will come to us, but our people will stay here.”

Bizenjo said that bringing no-confidence motion is a democratic right of the assembly members.

“If the CM wants to contest, he can do so, but he is trying to mislead the people through the media that there are 14 signatures, so why didn't he come?” he asked. “In 2018, when we filed the no-confidence motion, only Agha Raza went and submitted the motion.”

“One person is needed to mobilise and only one person can present it [no-trust vote],” Bizenjo said, adding that if majority was with them along with the party president, there would be no floor crossing.

He said CM Jam Kamal Khan had announced his resigned and then the acting president was appointed. “It will be unfair for him to resign.”

He said the prime minister has asked the chief minister to exercise his democratic right on the floor of the assembly. “It will be proved who has the majority. The prime minister has asked to support the majority.”

Speaking on the occasion, MPA Buledi said, “CM Kamal resigned voluntarily and the working committee approved it and waited for 10 days to see if he would withdraw or resign.

“The party's secretary general then gave my name to the Election Commission as acting president.”

He said that it was ridiculous of CM Kamal to contact the Election Commission.

"My intention is not to run for office. According to the party constitution, the three-year term of the cabinet has come to an end," he said. "We will convene a council session in November to elect a new president as per the deadline set by the Election Commission."

He said if Kamal wants to become president again, he should go to the Election Commission and participate in the elections instead of submitting applications.