Former Federal Minister for States and Frontier Regions and PML-N leader Abdul Qadir Baloch on Saturday announced he, along with his supporters, has decided to leave the party because of PML-N supremo and former premier Nawaz Sharif's anti-army rhetoric.

“I can never think of staying with a group talking against Pakistan Army,” said Abdul Qadir Baloch, who had retired as a Lt Gen in the army, and added, "I am what I am, because of the army. We at the academy (PMA) are taught to do or die and never ask Why … How can I be part of a group who blurts out venom against its own armed forces. If I have to stand with someone, I will stand with my Chief.”

The former lieutenant general said that PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, while virtually addressing the Quetta PDM gathering, had blamed army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa and DG ISI Lt Gen Faiz Hameed for the problems being faced by the country and accused them of taking unconstitutional steps.

“By doing so [Nawaz Sharif] is sowing the seeds of mutiny in the army,” claimed Baloch.

Baloch announced his decision while addressing the workers’ convention held at the Metropolitan Hall of Quetta and attended by a larger number of PML-N workers including district presidents of PML-N and former Chief Minister Balochistan Nawab Sanaullah Zehri.

The former federal minister said that another reason for him to render his resignation is PML-N’s controversial decision not to invite former Balochistan chief minister Sanaullah Zehri to the recently held Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) rally in Quetta just to please Akhter Mangel.

The retired general said that had an apology been issued by the leadership "then maybe things would have been different".

Balochistan PML-N vice-president Nawab Shambazai, women wing president Amna Baloch, Makran Division president Agha Shah Hussain, and other leaders have also left the party.