Balochistan Assembly Passes Resolutions on National Action Plan, Prevention of Acid Attacks
QUETTA: The Balochistan Assembly has passed resolutions calling for effective implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP) to improve law and order and eliminate terrorism, extremism and unrest in the province, along with measures to prevent acid attacks and amend relevant laws.
The assembly also held a detailed debate on the overall security situation, with members from both the government and opposition demanding a joint strategy and an in-camera session to discuss the province’s security challenges.
The session was chaired by Speaker Abdul Khaliq Achakzai. At the outset, members offered Fateha for the deceased young son of the speaker, children who died at PIMS and personnel of the security forces who were killed in the line of duty.
Awami National Party MPA Engineer Zamrak Khan Achakzai moved a resolution seeking decisive action to improve law and order, eliminate terrorism, extremism and unrest, and expose terrorist elements and their facilitators.
Speaking on the resolution, Opposition Leader Mir Younas Aziz Zehri said terrorism could not be eliminated by evacuating Mastung or removing orchards in Khadkocha. He called for action against terrorists wherever they were present and urged authorities not to harass ordinary citizens.
Zehri also demanded an in-camera assembly session on the security situation.
MPA Maulana Hidayat-ur-Rehman said the people of Balochistan were demanding the right to live safely, in addition to basic necessities such as electricity, gas and water. He said young people were losing their lives every day and urged the government to bring all political parties together to formulate a joint strategy for restoring peace.
MPAs Khair Jan Baloch, Zabid Reki, Fazal Qadir Mandokhail and Syed Zafar Agha also expressed concern over the security situation and called for an in-camera session and a fact-based debate to determine a future course of action.
Zabid Reki said it had become difficult even for government and opposition lawmakers to travel to their constituencies. He questioned the lack of improvement in security despite substantial resources being spent on the issue and stressed the need to create employment and bring estranged political parties and other stakeholders to the negotiating table.
PPP Parliamentary Leader and Provincial Minister Mir Sadiq Umrani said the current situation in Balochistan was the result of policies pursued in the past and supported holding an in-camera session to discuss the security issue.
Education Minister Raheela Durrani said the government was taking serious measures to improve law and order but emphasized that all political parties needed to work together to resolve the province’s problems.
Provincial Health Minister Bakht Muhammad Kakar said the security situation in Balochistan was not a new phenomenon and that the province had witnessed major terrorist incidents in the past as well. He rejected linking terrorism directly to unemployment and said substantial resources were required to secure the province’s vast areas.
During Question Hour, MPAs Mir Zabid Reki and Mir Younas Aziz Zehri protested over delays in answers to questions and the absence of relevant ministers. Speaker Abdul Khaliq Achakzai ruled that departments must provide answers to questions within one week in the future. Question Hour related to the Planning and Development Department was deferred due to the absence of the relevant minister.
CM Clarifies Position on Liquor Shops
Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti said liquor shops in the province were intended for non-Muslims and had existed since before the creation of Pakistan.
“I do not drink,” the chief minister said, adding that if any liquor shop had been named after a particular locality, the name would be removed.
During the session, MPA Rahmat Saleh Baloch also presented a call-attention notice regarding implementation of the job quota for the families of deceased individuals in Panjgur. The matter was disposed of following an assurance from the provincial health minister.
The assembly also discussed matters relating to dams and canals in the province.
