QUETTA: The tug of war between Chief Minister Jam Kamal Alyani and angry members of the ruling Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) has intensified as efforts made so far by different quarters to find out a solution to the crisis could not succeed.

Angry ministers, advisers and parliamentary secretaries have announced that they would not be ready to work with Chief Minister Alyani and demanded his resignation.

On the other hand, the chief minister has made it clear that he would not resign just on the demand of a few members of his party and claimed that he was enjoying the support of majority of the BAP members and coalition partners.

But the united opposition in the Balochistan Assembly has denied Mr Alyani’s claim and said it enjoyed the support of 35 MPAs in the house of 65, while the chief minister is enjoying the support of 24 MPAs.

Mr Alyani was making efforts to persuade the angry BAP members through separate meetings with them. He assured them to remove all their reservations and complaints.

He had invited his coalition partners and cabinet ministers at lunch the other day, which was attended by 24 members of the ruling coalition.

He also had a meeting with Chief Organiser of BAP Mir Jan Mohammad Khan Jamali at his residence along with provincial minister Mir Tariq Hussain Mangi after his return from Islamabad and discussed the prevailing situation.

Sources said that Mr Alyani was meeting disgruntled members but they told him that they individually could not take a decision.

The sources said that after Speaker Mir Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo returned from Islamabad the angry group held a meeting and asked the chief minister to step down or seek a fresh vote of confidence from the house.

The united opposition also requested the Balochistan governor to call the assembly session and ask Mr Alyani to take a fresh vote of confidence.

Published in Dawn, October 11th, 2021