QUETTA, July 10: The Balochistan National Democratic Party has withdrawn its support to the Jam-led coalition government in the province following the resignation of Home Minister Sardar Sanaullah Zehri.

The BNDP’s dissociation was announced by Mr Zehri himself at a news conference here on Thursday. He was flanked by the party chief, Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo.

Mr Zehri confirmed that his resignation had been accepted by the Balochistan governor.

He said after such a tragic incident as the Quetta imambargah massacre that claimed over 50 lives, there was no justification for him to remain home minister and support the government, which had failed to protect the lives of innocent people. He held the inspector-general of police responsible for the incident and demanded his suspension and a judicial inquiry into the killings.

Mr Zehri said Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali belonged to Balochistan and he was present in the provincial capital when the massacre took place. As such, he should also accept responsibility and resign from the office of prime minister.

“The Balochistan government has turned the province into a ‘police state’ in which ministers and public representatives have no say,” Sardar Zehri said. “As home minister, I was unaware of many decisions taken by the IG police and the intelligence agencies who have made the government hostage.”

Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo said that for all practical purposes Inter Services Intelligence was running the affairs of the provincial government.

“Ministers sitting in the government are powerless and cannot take any decision on their own and their status is that of government servants,” Mr Zehri added.

He said he had informed the prime minister, governor and chief minister that he could not work in these circumstances. He had submitted his resignation on July 5 and informed the governor and chief minister that he would not be taking it back.

Mr Zehri said he had resigned from the ministry and not from membership of the assembly and he and his party would continue to play their parliamentary role. He said the BNDP would not demand governor’s rule in Balochistan, as it could not make any undemocratic demand. The party’s leadership would take a decision soon regarding the future role of the party. If a better government was formed, the party would play its due role, Mr Zehri said.