BAP threatens to leave the federal govt if it did not get adequate representation in the cabinet

ISLAMABAD, Feb 11 (SABAH): The Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) – the coalition partner of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) – threatened to leave the federal government on Friday if it did not get adequate representation in the cabinet, and in protest staged a walkout from the Senate session.

Cracks between the ruling party and BAP appeared during the Senate session held on Friday in which the coalition partner demanded representation in the cabinet and said that failure in doing so will result in them not supporting the PTI.

Following this, BAP’s Senator Prince Omar Ahmadzai along with other party members staged a walkout in protest, prompting PPP’s Sherry Rehman to offer them a seat at the opposition benches.

“BAP should come to the opposition benches, the opposition will end their problems and frustrations,” Rehman said.

Upon walking out, PTI leader and Minister for Railways Azam Khan Swati convinced the BAP to return to the floor. Following this, the party’s General Secretary Manzoor Ahmed Kakar expressed his grief over the mistrust their party has faced from the federal government.

“We are not allies for the ministry,” Kakar stated, adding that they have been the ruling PTI’s allies for three-and-a-half years and affirmed that they “will remain an ally.”

However, the party’s general secretary urged the Senate to take Balochistan’s rights into consideration when formulating policies, including their right to representation, border security and job protection under quotas, claiming that “we are being walled off.”

Kakar reminded the House of the pivotal role the province plays. “The CPEC is affiliated with Balochistan, have mercy,” he pleaded on the floor.

The senator expressed that not a single president of National Bank of Pakistan was elected from Balochistan in over 70 years.