QUETTA: Former PTI Balochistan president Sardar Yar Muhammad Rind has condemned the May 9 attacks on military installations and other places, saying that he ended all relations with the Imran Khan-led party a long time ago.

Addressing a press conference on Monday, Mr Rind said he will decide his political future after consulting his friends who were sitting in the assembly.

Mr Rind, who is a member of the Balochistan Assembly and a veteran politician, said he has a childhood relationship with PPP leader Asif Ali Zardari who was his neighbour in Nawabshah.

When asked if he was joining any party, Mr Rind said “he has many options at this time”.

Talking about the bomb attack in March targeting his son’s convoy, Mr Rind claimed that not a single accused, nominated in the FIR, has been arrested so far.

Emphasises unity among political leaders of Balochistan

“I know who carried out the attack and filed an FIR, but even today the killers are free and seen roaming around in the Governor House and the Chief Minister House,” he said, without elaborating further.

He claimed that authorities didn’t even provide him with the forensic report of the attacks as the suspects enjoy “the support of powerful people”.

Balochistan was already burning and now efforts were being made to extend the circle of this fire, Mr Rind said, as he criticised the federal government over its “insouciance” towards the flood-hit areas of Balochistan.

Bolan was the first district to be affected by floods but till today not a penny has been spent on rehabilitation of the affected people and reconstruction of roads and bridges, Mr Rind claimed.

In response to a question, Mr Rind said the political leaders of Balochistan have to unite and think about what their role will be.

“We have to defend the coast, resources and land of Balochistan,” he said.

He added that when he was made a special assistant by former PM Khan, he was not even given an office, nor called for any meeting but one.“After that, Imran Khan wrote a letter directly to the [Balochistan Assembly] speaker and removed me from the position of parliamentary leader, even though it was not his authority,” he claimed.

Published in Dawn, June 6th, 2023