ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Petroleum Jam Kamal Khan has resigned from the federal cabinet in an apparent move to join the newly formed Balochistan Awami Party (BAP).

Mr Kamal had handed over his resignation to Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi last week and it was accepted by President Mamnoon Hussain on Monday.

“In exercise of powers conferred by Clause 3 of Article 92 of the Constitution, the president on the advice of the prime minister has been pleased to accept the resignation tendered by Jam Kamal Khan from the office of the minister of state for petroleum with effect from March 29,” says a notification issued by the Cabinet Secretariat.

Jam Kamal Khan may join Balochistan Awami Party

Talking to Dawn, Mr Kamal confirmed that he and some of his friends might join the BAP in the next couple of days. He claimed that two more MNAs belonging to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz were also about to quit the party.

Mr Kamal said he and his “friends from Balochistan” believed that a new situation was emerging in the province and they should use a new political platform, instead of remaining attached to the mainstream parties.

Mr Kamal, who had been in the cabinet of the PML-N government since 2013, said he had been expressing reservations over some issues for the past two years, but got no response from the party leadership.

Jam Kamal, who was elected MNA from NA-270 Awaran-cum-Lasbela in 2013, said he had contested the election as an independent candidate and later joined the PML-N.

Published in Dawn, April 3rd, 2018