BNP-M decides to part ways with PTI-led coalition govt.

KARACHI: Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP) chief Sardar Akhtar Mengal on Wednesday announced to part ways with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led (PTI) coalition government over its failure to implement accords with the party.

The federal government was dealt a blow with this announcement, which the BNP-M leader announced during the National Assembly session. "I am officially announcing that our party is separating itself from the PTI government," said Akhtar Mengal. The BNP-M chief said that he would remain part of the National Assembly and keep raising their problems in the Lower House of parliament.

He said that his party has waited for two years but no one has bothered to pay attention to their demands despite fully supporting the government in last budget.

He said that PTI had signed two agreements at the time of government formation after the 2018 General Elections and later during the presidential elections, but not a single point of the accord was implemented.

Mengal reminded the House that his party had two agreements with the ruling party, adding that it was the Imran Khan-led party which had come to him for an alliance, not the BNP-M which went to Bani Gala - the personal residence of PM Imran Khan.

"The first agreement was done on August 8, 2018 and signed by Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Jahangir Tareen and Yar Muhammad Rind," recalled Mengal. He added that his party had demanded that the missing persons issue be resolved and the National Action Plan be implemented in letter and spirit in the agreement.

"Can someone tell us if there was anything unconstitutional in both these demands? Why were they not implemented?" asked the lawmaker from Balochistan. He regretted that the ruling party's mindset was "the same one running in the country since 1948".

He added that if the government wishes to take his province along, then they should implement their agreements with BNP-M.

While highlighting his grievances in the...