MNA Aslam Bhootani parts ways with PTI, joins Opposition

• Bhootani says he has decided to leave government alliance, according to Daily Dawn.
• His statement comes after meeting with Asif Ali Zardari.
• Bhootani had joined PTI back in 2018.

QUETTA: Independent MNA from Balochistan Mohammad Aslam Bhootani has decided to quit the ruling coalition and side with the Opposition ahead of the vote on the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Bhootani said that he has decided to leave the government alliance, according to Daily Dawn.

His statement came after a meeting with the PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari. The MNA said: “I and my family have very old relations with Asif Ali Zardari and I cannot ignore him.”

Bhootani had joined the PTI back in 2018 and served the party for three and a half years and became the MNA by securing 70,000 votes. 

BAP announces support for Opposition

Earlier, BAP Parliamentary Leader Khalid Magsi had said that his party would support the Opposition's no-confidence motion.

"We want the country to be handled anew [...] we want the issues to be resolved," the BAP leader, whose party has four MNAs, said while addressing a press conference alongside Opposition's bigwigs — PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif, PDM chief Fazlur Rehman, Asif Ali Zardari, and PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Monday.

The setback came only a day after Special Assistant to PM (SAPM) on Reconciliation and Harmony in Balochistan and Jamhoori Watan Party leader Shah­zain Bugti announced to part ways with the government and join the Opposition.