Ex-interim interior minister Sarfraz Bugti joins PPP

In an unexpected move, former interim interior minister Sarfraz Bugti — who stepped down from his post last week — joined the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) on Monday.

Earlier, reports emerged in mainstream media claiming that Bugti had tendered his resignation to contest the upcoming general elections on the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) ticket.

Addressing a PPP workers convention in Turbat — in the presence of PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and other leaders — the former security czar said: “Respected leader Asif Ali Zardari came to Turbat and directed me to join the PPP.”

Speaking on the occasion, he also expressed delight to be entering into the general elections on the PPP’s ticket.

The general elections will take place on February 8 next year after much fear of them being delayed again, but the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) issued the polling schedule on the Supreme Court orders, ending worries to an extent on the issue.

Bugti hoped that peace would be restored in Balochistan under the leadership of Zardari.

In a bid to provide better healthcare facilities to the locals, he urged the ex-president to build a state-of-the-art hospital in Turbat, similar to that in Sukkur.

“Will make the PPP a progressive party under your leadership,” he promised to Zardari.

The PPP is the party that would challenge the narrative against Pakistan, the former interior minister added.

It is pertinent to mention here that before joining the PPP, Bugti was associated with the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP).