Abdul Qadir Baloch – former provincial president of PML-N – on Saturday said he could not even think of staying among a group talking against the armed forces of Pakistan, adding that his achievements in life were only because of the army.

Addressing a ceremony in Quetta, Baloch said he decided to leave the party after the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) rally in Quetta. The basic reason behind the move was Nawaz Sharif’s appeal to the army men, he explained his choice of parting ways with the PML-N.

The appeal was an attempt incite mutiny in the army, said Baloch about Nawaz Sharif’s speech in which he had asked the military personnel not to accept illegal orders. He could not tolerate anyone chattering against his chief, the former PML-N leader remarked.  

Baloch, who was accompanied by former Balochistan chief minister Nawab Sanaullah Zehri, said they would make the decision about joining another political party or the independent group after consultations.

He said the PML-N had bagged 22 seats in the provincial assembly in 2013 for the time in history but Zehri wasn’t chosen as the chief minister despite the nationalist parties’ support.

The party did not back Zehri despite the fact that the chief ministership was snatched from him, Baloch said, adding that he was in the National Assembly to represent Balochistan but received the ministry related to the FATA.

Just a day before the Quetta rally, said Baloch, he was informed on phone that Zehri won’t be on the stage and the reason cited was that BNP-M chief Sardar Akhtar Mengal would be unhappy if he came there.

Speaking on the occasion, Zehri said they had opted for the PML-N ticket in 2018 at a time when no one was ready for that.

Nawaz Sharif always ditched others, he said and added, “You must listen Nawaz Sharif. Balochistan is ours.”

Zehri said they joined the PML-N when no one paid attention to the party, adding that Nawaz Sharif was working on Modi’s agenda. He said he had resigned from the PML-N CEC.

Meanwhile, PML-N Balochistan Women Wing President Amna Baloch, provincial vice-president Nawab Shambezai and Agha Shah Hussain – Makran Division head – also announced their decision to quit the party.