Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) leader Qasim Roonjho on Tuesday first alleged he was “abducted” and “forced” to vote for the 26th constitutional amendment before recanting mere hours later and alleging he was “pressured” to state the claims in a press conference.
Roonjho was one of two BNP-M senators to vote for the 26th constitutional amendment. Following its enactment, BNP-M chief Sardar Akhtar Mengal directed both senators to submit their resignations. Speaking to media, he accused the ruling coalition of using coercion to secure their votes and lamenting that the situation today was worse than during the country’s past military dictatorships.
According to Mengal, the proposed draft was presented late at night prior to securing the consent of the government ministers. Terming the entire parliamentary exercise to pass the constitutional amendment a “drama,” he politician alleged the government tried to flip loyalties of opposition lawmakers.
Subsequently, Roonjho submitted his resignation from the Senate to Mengal for violating party policy in voting for the 26th constitutional amendment. Addressing the press conference alongside Mengal, Roonjho alleged he was “abducted” prior to the tabling of the legislation. He alleged the people who abducted him were very “influential” and had asked him to stay as their “guest” for a few days.
The former BNP-M senator said he is a kidney patient and had contracted malaria because the place he was forced to stay in was full of mosquitos. He claimed his abductors took him to a local hospital for dialysis treatment as his health deteriorated. To questions, he refused to give any further details, saying this could cause more problems.
Roonjho maintained he became a senator to serve the people of Balochistan and had suffered terribly during his three and a half year tenure. Criticizing the government, he said that it was incomprehensible to sit with “insensitive people” in Parliament.
Within hours of the press conference, however, Roonjho’s son Jahanzeb alleged his father was “forced by the BNP-M leadership” to allege his abduction and announce his resignation. Condemning the party’s “immoral and unserious step,” Jahanzeb claimed his father was “forced” to make the allegations by the BNP-M leadership.
Roonjho then issued a video statement alleging the BNP-M chief had pressured him to level the abduction allegations. He claimed he was given a script to speak in the press conference and maintained he was staying at his personal residence and was not abducted by anyone.