• Claims some angry lawmakers have returned to his side
• Insists he retains office of party president

QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan Alyani, after a meeting with Prime Minister Imran Khan, has claimed that a no-trust motion filed by some angry lawmakers against him will not succeed because he enjoys majority in the provincial assembly.

“Insha Allah, no-confidence motion will fail,” he said, adding that he was in favour of voting on the motion in the house so that the situation became clear.

Mr Alyani, who is facing opposition from some lawmakers of the ruling Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), had a meeting with Imran Khan in the PM office in Islamabad on Thursday. Senator Danesh Kumar and MNA Nawabzada Khalid Magsi were also present.

Sources said that the CM discussed the prevailing political crises in Balochistan with the prime minister and informed him about his efforts for defeating the no-trust motion.

An MPA of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, Mir Nasibullah Marri, is among the 14 members who have signed no-trust motion against the CM. Mr Marri was health minister in Alyani-led cabinet, but after one year he was removed from the post.

Talking to the media after meeting the PM, Mr Alyani said that voting on the no-trust motion was likely to be held in the next three to four days.

Replying to a question about his meeting with the prime minister, the CM said that he discussed developments in Balochistan with Mr Khan.

He did not divulge details of his meeting with the prime minister. However, he was looking confident and satisfied.

In another chat with journalists outside the Election Commission of Pakistan headquarters in Islamabad, Mr Alyani said that he had decided to retain the office of the BAP president till the next intra-party elections.

“As long as I am heading the party, no one could be appointed as acting president of the BAP,” he said and reiterated his claim that he had not tendered his written resignation.

Mr Alyani had submitted a petition to the chief election commissioner, stating that he had only shared his desire on Twitter about resigning from BAP president’s office. He said that party colleagues advised him not to step down from the party office and continue till intra-party elections.

“I’m surprised to know that no one has taken any notice and action on the appointment of acting president of the BAP in the presence of its president,” he said, adding that only the party’s executive committee had the power to take a decision on the matter.

He expressed his concern over the letter written by the party’s secretary general to the ECP regarding appointment of Mir Zahoor Buledi as acting president of the party and said it had no legal status.

Replying to a query about the allegation of horse trading, Mr Alyani said that Sardar Abdul Rehman Khetiran or his son should be asked to respond to this question.

“As my position is strong, why should I adopt such a way,” he said and claimed that not only coalition partners but some angry members of the BAP also were with him.

The CM said that he briefed the prime minister on progress on the ongoing development projects launched under the Balochistan Package announced by the federal government.

He said that the prime minister said that development of Balochistan was one of the top priorities of his government.

The federal government had announced a historic package for Balochistan and was taking steps to bring Baloch youths into the mainstream, he quoted the prime minister as saying.

Published in Dawn, October 15th, 2021