The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) have agreed to make seat adjustments for the elections, providing Nawaz League a breakthrough in Balochistan.

Former Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and BNP-M President Sardar Akthar Mengal told the media on Wednesday that they have formed a committee to look after seat-to-seat adjustment which would soon announce its decision.

Shahbaz said, “I have come to Quetta to bring Baloch and Pashtun people into national mainstream and convey the message of Nawaz Sharif.” Shahbaz, during his visit to Quetta, also met nationalist leaders and discussed election matters and other national issues.

He said that their aim was not just to win seats in the elections, but also try to bring Balochistan and its people into national mainstream and convince them to jointly struggle for the development and prosperity of the country. He said that Balochistan is the heart of Pakistan. “We have to make our heart strong and energetic.”

Referring to reservations of BNP-M, the PML-N leader said that they would collectively raise voice against injustices, and the interim prime minister would also be contacted in this regard. A collective petition would be sent to the Election Commission also and they would take up the relevant matters with the security forces as well.

If Akhtar Mengal would not participate in general elections then anti-peace forces would get strengthened, he added.Shahbaz said prevailing law and order situation in Balochistan was not satisfactory, but he expressed the hope they would succeed in bringing peace to the province. If one part of Pakistan hurts, the other part feels the pain, he added. He said addressing the grievances of Baloch is vital. There was no solution to the problems of the province except meeting genuine demands of people, he said.

Shahbaz said operations were carried out in Balochistan, Akbar Bugti was killed. He said the people were being kidnapped and killed, “so we have to play our due role to improve the situation”. He added that during their government in Punjab, they gave consent for shifting 11 billion rupees funds to Balochistan from the NFC award. Responding to a question, he confessed that PML-N had taken a wrong decision by ending the government of Akthar Mengal in 1998.

Earlier, the PML-N leader, when he landed at Quetta Airport, was accorded a warm welcome by provincial party leaders and workers who brought him to the city in a big procession. Shahbaz chaired a meeting of party workers and leaders, and he was given a briefing about the elections in the context of Balochistan and PML-N’s position in the province.

Later, he visited Sardar Akthar Mengal’s residence where both the leaders discussed the situation of Balochistan and the forthcoming polls. PML-N sources said that the BNP-M leader apprised Shahbaz of his reservations about the elections, particularly lack of steps being taken by government to make them free and fair.

Sources said that the PML-N leader was told that due to law and order situation, not only party leaders but also workers could not run election campaign in most districts of Balochistan, especially Khuzdar, which has been made a no-go area by armed groups allegedly patronised by government functionaries.

Upon this, sources said, Shahbaz Sharif assured the Baloch leader that PML-N and its chief Nawaz Sharif would openly raise voice in this regard. He termed the decision of Akthar Mengal about contesting elections a welcome move.

Besides his meeting with Akthar Mengal, Shahbaz Sharif also met with PKMAP Chairman Mahmood Khan Achakzai, National Party (NP) President Dr Abdul Malik Baloch and Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP) President Talal Akbar Bugti.