KARACHI: Balochistan National Party (BNP-M) president Sardar Akhtar Mengal asserted on Friday that the government led by the PML-N exploited the coalition, which included his party as a member.
“To streamline their own matters, they introduced the NAB amendment — they passed 56 bills in one day on the floor of the assembly — [but] they did not pass even one bill of ours,” he said in an interview on DawnNews’ programme Doosra Rukh.
During the interview, he expressed his disappointment with the PML-N, PPP, and PTI, stating that he would now carefully consider any coalition with these three major parties, thinking not just once, but a hundred times.
“They summon us back for the sake of our votes, and once their objectives are met, they seek to distance themselves from us,” he said.
BNP-M chief says will now ‘carefully’ consider any coalition with PML-N, PPP and PTI
When questioned about whether he believed he was taken advantage of by the PDM government, Mr Mengal remarked, “Here, everyone simply use one another for the sake of their own advantage.”
Mr Mengal mentioned that during his meeting with Shehbaz Sharif for the PDM coalition, he conveyed to the then-prime minister that since they had reached an agreement, they should not, as has happened previously, abandon Balochistan to the whims of the “establishment”.
“Shehbaz Sharif... enveloped us [BNP-M] and handed us over to the [establishment],” he stated.
He mentioned that the issue of missing persons was raised when the PDM government was established, but when no action was taken, the Mengal group began resigning from the cabinet.
“After two ministers stepped down, they urged us to sit down and discuss,” Mr Mengal explained.
He asserted that the coalition government was formed with support from the military establishment.
“I met then-Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa after submitting the no-confidence motion, and he seemed uncertain. He was attempting to maintain good relations with both the PDM and PTI chairman so that he could align with the victor,” he said.
“Gen Bajwa advised the PDM government and PTI chairman to exercise restraint; he didn’t want to upset either side,” he added.
According to Mr Mengal, if Gen Bajwa did not have differences with Imran Khan, the PDM coalition would never have come together. Regarding the elections, he mentioned that shortly after the PDM was formed, it was agreed that once the movement succeeded, the country should hold immediate elections.
Nawaz Sharif’s return
About Nawaz Sharif’s return, Mr Mengal said: “The unfortunate thing in this country is that decisions are not made by the people, and the way he has returned — couldn’t he have come back a year earlier?”
He noted that Nawaz Sharif’s return, right before the upcoming general election, raises a “significant question,” and it remains to be seen how he will explain it.
“I don’t believe any major party is eager for elections... if elections do happen, it’s unlikely that the parties that were in the coalition will succeed. We don’t even know if the PDM still exists or if the end of the PTI government means the end of the PDM as well,” he said.
“Nawaz’s return raises concerns... he should have at least informed his former allies,” he remarked.
He expressed disappointment that the government has struggled to accomplish anything except dealing with their legal matters.
Published in Dawn, November 4th, 2023