QUETTA: The Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) has demanded an increase in its share in the federal cabinet and decided that it will revisit its support for the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) government in the centre if its demands are not met.

A meeting of the party was held here on Sunday night which was attended by the founder of the party Senator Saeed Ahmed Hashmi, Senate Chairman Mir Sadiq Sanjrani, Chief Minister Mir Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo, Balochistan Assembly Speaker Mir Jan Muhammad Khan Jamali and the party’s senators and MNAs.

The meeting, which continued till late night, discussed some affairs of the party and its future relationship with the PTI-led federal government.

It was observed in the meeting that despite many assurances the BAP’s share in the federal cabinet had not been increased.

Sources in BAP said that the party leadership and its parliamentarians have expressed concern over the federal government’s attitude of ignoring the party’s demand for increase its share in the federal cabinet.

It was observed in the meeting that BAP extended unconditional support to the PTI government in the National Assembly and Senate since the formation of the federal government, but the PTI leadership has not given the rightful place to the party in Islamabad.

The meeting was told that BAP has five members in the National Assembly and 12 members in the Senate, but it has been given only a single ministry in the federal cabinet — Zubaida Jalal as the Minister for Defence Production.

Such an attitude of the PTI leadership is increasing a sense of deprivation in the people of Balochistan, the meeting was told.

It was decided that CM Bizenjo would take up the issue with Prime Minister Imran Khan during his upcoming visit to Quetta.

A senior BAP leader told Dawn that if there would be no positive response from the federal government, the party would consider withdrawing its support for the PTI-led federal government.

Published in Dawn, February 8th, 2022