ISLAMABAD: President Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP) and Special Assistant to PM on Reconciliation and Harmony in Balochistan Shahzain Bugti has announced to quit the PTI government, saying he had enough of the unfulfilled promises Prime Minister Imran Khan had made for the development of the province.
Shahzain Bugti unveiled his decision at a joint news conference with PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari following their meeting focusing on the prevailing political situation in the country keeping in view the no-confidence motion submitted against Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Shahzain Bugti informed the newsmen about his party’s decision to part ways with the PTI government and resignation from the federal cabinet. He remarked: “The government had failed to deliver in Balochistan. The federal government gave us hope that things will improve with its promise to focus on the underdeveloped areas but the people have been disappointed.”
The JWP chief further said, “We are standing with the Pakistan Democratic Movement and will do whatever we can.”
On his part, Bilawal Bhutto described Shahzain Bugti’s resignation as a “brave decision”. He said that Shahzain Bugti had tried to work with the government during the past three years but it had betrayed both its people and the opposition, adding that PM Imran had “used his allies”.
Bilawal while thanking Shahzain Bugti said that the MNA had sent a clear-cut message to the Pakistani people. “The people are looking to us to solve their problems. Balochistan’s issues are complicated and our history has not been fair with the people of the province,” the PPP chairman added.
“Shahzain Bugti hosted us at the time of the Senate election, and today when the country is at a crossroad where the future of the country and democracy are at stake, the country is looking at the parliament to emerge from this crisis,” he said.
Chairman Bilawal said that this is a timely and courageous decision by Shahzain Bugti. He said that many respectable politicians who truly represent their constituencies made efforts to raise their voice for the people. Imran Khan betrayed his allies the same way that he ditched the people and the opposition. As long as true representatives of Balochistan and all of the country do not come forward, the problems of the people cannot be solved.
“We are grateful to the Jamhoori Wattan Party and Shahzain Bugti for taking this brave decision. The issues of Balochistan are very complicated and the people of Balochistan have not gotten justice in our history. If we have to save Pakistan, we have to give justice to the people,” he said.
Bilawal asserted Bugti had taken an “independent decision” which had been disclosed now. “This decision came from the experience of working with these people for three years. Bugti Sahib is a brave man and he values his word,” he added.
Bilawal accused the incumbent government of failing to fulfil its promises. “We still have to show Balochistan people that are we ready to resolve the Balochistan issues or not. If we can inaugurate grand projects and hospitals in Sindh and Punjab so we can do that in Balochistan. We will always try to raise voice on genuine issues of Balochistan,” Bilawal said.
Answering the questions of the journalists, Chairman Bilawal said that all of the allies have made their decisions, when they present them before the country is their own choice. If we brought the 18th Amendment, it was for the people.
President Zardari was the most powerful president in the country’s history but gave his powers to the parliament and to the provinces. Balochistan was given a specific protection. Even in a critical condition, Balochistan’s budget cannot be reduced.
If President Zardari apologized to the people of Balochistan for past mistakes, he did so as the president of the country and the military’s supreme commander. If we can make hospitals and schools in Sindh, we can do the same in Balochistan. Our effort will be to work with Shahzain Bugti on genuine issues and their solutions.
Shahzain Bugti has a single vote in the National Assembly as an ally of ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
Bugti, grandson of Shaheed Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti, is a federal minister and elected from NA-259 in 2018 general elections.
In 2021, PM Imran Khan had appointed Shahzain Bugti as special assistant on Balochistan reconciliation. – NNI