Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo addresses a press conference in Gwadar on Thursday.—INP
Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo addresses a press conference in Gwadar on Thursday.—INP

QUETTA: The National Party (NP) has announced withdrawing its candidate on NA-272 Lasbela-Gwadar in favour of former speaker of the Balochistan Assembly Muhammad Aslam Bho­otani. Mr Bhootani is contesting the election as an independent candidate while the PML-N candidate has already withdrawn in his favour.

NP president Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo announced this while speaking at a joint press conference with Mr Bhootani.

However, other parties, including Jam Mir Kamal Khan Alyani’s newly-formed Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), have fielded their candidates for the seat.

Mr Bhootani has not joined BAP though his elder brother Sardar Muhammad Saleh Bhoo­tani is contesting from his native constituency on a BAP ticket. The Bhootanis have won eight times from this constituency.

Hasil Bizenjo says his party will fight BAP and hidden forces behind it

The NP had decided not to field its candidate against Mr Bhootani, Mr Bizenjo said, adding the party would fight BAP and hidden forces which played an important role in its establishment.

Khurshid Rind belongs to NP, but he has filed his nomination papers as an independent candidate for NA-272 Lasbela-Gwadar.

After Mr Bizenjo’s press conference, Mr Rind withdrew his papers in Mr Bhootani’s favour.

While speaking on the occasion Mr Bhootani thanked the NP leadership for its support.

Furthermore, Mr Bhootani said he considered China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) an important project for the development of the region.

He said after elections his first priority would be to resolve the water crisis the port city had been facing for a long time.

He said he would also work for ending power loadshedding in Gwadar and adjacent areas. “Gwadar is the vital part of CPEC, but the city is still deprived of basic facilities. After elections my responsibility will be to become the voice of the people of Gwadar in National Assembly,” Mr Bhootani said.

Published in Dawn, June 29th, 2018

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.