BNP’s Mengal hints at parting ways with PML-N led ruling coalition
Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) Chairman Akhtar Mengal has hinted at parting ways with PML-N led coalition government over foreign investment act in relation to the Reko Diq project.
Speaking to the private news channel, Mengal expressed his willingness to part ways with the centre saying, “there is a possibility of separation if concerns regarding the bill are not addressed.”
While lashing out at coalition government, Akhtar Mengal said that decisions should be taken with the consent of allies, but instead of taking the allies into confidence, investors are taken into confidence by the ruling coalition.
“You give more importance to companies than Parliament, then we also have to reconsider the basis of our alliance,” he said.
Mengal furthered that the lives of people are changed in places rich with resources.
“But it’s Balochistan’s misfortune that the way its resources were discovered, it became a misery for us,” he added.
Earlier on December 12, the Senate approved the Foreign Investment (Promotion and Protection) Bill, 2022 amid the protests by opposition benches.
In light of the approval, the Pakistan government would sign the deal on December 15.
President Arif Alvi also signed the Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Bill 2022 on Tuesday turning it into an act.
The law, which was already passed by two houses of parliament on Monday, is aimed at giving protection to foreign investments in the country.
