ISLAMABAD: A day after complaining that the government is not implementing the agreement signed with his party, the chief of his own faction of the Balochistan National Party (BNP) Sardar Akhtar Mengal on Thursday called on Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari.

The meeting took place at the Parliament House chamber of Senate Deputy Chairman Saleem Mandviwala, a day after Mr Mengal, while speaking in the National Assembly, had expressed concern over the security and human rights situation in Balochistan.

Talking briefly to reporters after his meeting with the PPP chairman, Mr Mengal simply said they had discussed the “political situation” and steps needed for “strengthening the democratic institutions” in the country. With a smiling face, he then said they had also discussed “future steps” to deal with the “situation” which the country could face in the coming days.

On the other hand, responding to a question about his meeting with the BNP chief during a media talk, the PPP chairman said Mr Mengal was a senior Baloch leader and regretted that his speeches were being blacked out by the media.

Mr Bhutto-Zardari said the BNP chief had raised very pertinent questions on the floor of the National Assembly on Wednesday regarding the claim of the government that the terrorists, who killed 14 passengers after identifying them in Ormara, had come from Iran. He said Mr Mengal had raised questions as to how the terrorists had managed to cross over the border, travelled 450 kilometres to carry out the attack and that too in the presence of some 50 check-posts.

He regretted that instead of responding to Mr Mengal’s questions, Human Rights Minister Dr Shireen Mazari simply said the agreement between the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and the BNP should be implemented, which was insufficient.

The BNP chief on a number of occasions has complained that the six-point agreement which had been signed by his party with the PTI at the time of formation of an alliance last year is not being implemented.

Published in Dawn, April 26th, 2019