\u2018We stand with PDM\u2019
\n Islamabad
\nJamhoori Watan Party leader and special assistant to the prime minister (SAPM) on reconciliation and harmony in Balochistan, Shah\u00adzain Bugti, announced on Sunday his resignation from the federal cabinet citing a lack of development in the province.
\nHe made the announcement while addressing a press conference in Islamabad alongside PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari. Earlier today, Bilawal called on Bugti at his residence where the two discussed the political situation in the country.
\nThe prime minister had appointed Bugti as his special assistant last year in July soon after deciding to hold talks with disgruntled Baloch tribesmen to pave way for permanent peace and progress in Balochistan. PM Imran had tasked him with holding talks with peeved Baloch tribesmen on behalf of the government.
\nHis resignation comes amid mounting political tensions ahead of the no-confidence vote submitted by the opposition against the prime minister.
\nAddressing today\u2019s press conference, Bugti said that the government had failed to deliver in Balochistan. \u201cThe federal government gave us hope that things will improve but the people have been disappointed,\u201d he said, announcing his resignation from Prime Minister Imran Khan\u2019s cabinet.
\n\u201cWe are standing with the Pakistan Democratic Movement and will do whatever we can,\u201d he said.
\nElaborating on his grievances, he said that when the prime minister first came into power he promised to focus on South Balochistan and under-developed areas. \u201cBut he failed to do so.\u201d
\nThe MNA also alleged that insurgency grew during the PTI government\u2019s tenure due to its negligence. \u201cI have done everything except for banging my head into the wall. […] Imran Khan says everyone is corrupt. [But] put the evidence in front of the people, they will decide. But all you do is use wrong words.\u201d
\nHe added that the government had announced a development package for South Punjab but had ignored Balochistan. \u201cYou couldn\u2019t allocate Rs4bn for the province. Do you consider the province your last priority?\u201d
\nMeanwhile, Bilawal termed Bugti\u2019s resignation a \u201cbrave decision\u201d. The PPP chairman said that the MNA had tried to work with the government during the past three years but it had \u201cbetrayed the people and the opposition\u201d, adding that PM Imran had \u201cused his allies\u201d.
\nThanking Bugti, he said that the MNA had sent a message to the people of the country. \u201cThe people are looking to us to solve their problems. Balochistan\u2019s issues are complicated and our history has not been fair with the people of the province.\u201d
\nHe asserted that Bugti had taken an \u201cindependent decision\u201d which was announced today. \u201cThe decision came from the experience of working with these people for three years. Bugti sahab is a brave man and he values his word.\u201d
\nCommenting on the premier\u2019s \u201csurprise\u201d for the opposition, the PPP chairman said that PM Imran had \u201clost his power\u201d.
\n\u201cThis is all propaganda and it won\u2019t work because the people of Pakistan know that Naya Pakistan mean inflation and unemployment. The people will not fall into the same trap again no matter what they say.\u201d
\nUnperturbed Fawad Chaudhary says Bugti will return tomorrow
\nFederal Information Minister Fawad Chaudhary appeared unperturbed with the development and was confident that Bugti will \u201ccome back [to the government\u2019s side] tomorrow\u201d.
\n\u201cAsad Umar will meet Shahzain Bugti tomorrow [Monday],\u201d he revealed.
\nThe minister said that previously too, four out of 12 people, who had announced their decision to leave the ruling party, chose the path to return. \u201cUp until an hour before the no-confidence vote, the situation will keep on changing.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u2018We stand with PDM\u2019 Islamabad Jamhoori Watan Party leader and special assistant to the prime minister (SAPM) on reconciliation and harmony in Balochistan, Shah\u00adzain Bugti, announced on Sunday his resignation from the federal cabinet citing a lack of development in the province. He made the announcement while addressing a press conference in Islamabad alongside PPP […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":251644,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[345,2172,5375],"class_list":{"0":"post-251625","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-top-news","8":"tag-balochistan","9":"tag-federal-cabinet","10":"tag-shahzain-bugti"},"yoast_head":"\n