Balochistan Assembly Calls for In-Camera Session on Law and Order Amid Heated Debate
QUETTA: The Balochistan Assembly has unanimously approved a resolution on the deteriorating law-and-order situation in the province, while government and opposition lawmakers engaged in a heated debate and jointly called for an in-camera session to review the security situation.
Members demanded decisive action against terrorism, dialogue with disgruntled political groups and other stakeholders, increased employment opportunities for young people, and a political solution to the province’s longstanding issues.
The session, chaired by Speaker Abdul Khaliq Achakzai, began 40 minutes late. The House considered questions concerning various departments, call-attention notices, resolutions and legislation.
Members Criticize Delays in Answers
During Question Hour, lawmakers strongly criticized departments for failing to provide timely answers.
MPA Zabid Reki said answers to questions raised in the assembly sometimes took two years to arrive. Opposition Leader Younas Aziz Zehri said ministers responsible for providing answers were often absent from the House.
“If answers are not to be provided, Question Hour should be abolished,” Zehri remarked.
The speaker ruled that departments must provide answers to assembly questions within one week in the future.
Opposition Calls for Political Dialogue
Speaking during the debate on law and order, Zabid Reki said it had become difficult for both government and opposition lawmakers to travel to their homes. He blamed the federal government for the prevailing situation and questioned why peace had not been restored despite billions of rupees being spent on security.
He said several JUI leaders had been killed but their attackers had not been arrested.
Reki called for employment opportunities for young people and urged the government to bring disgruntled political parties, tribal leaders and other stakeholders to the negotiating table to find a political solution.
Maulana Hidayat-ur-Rehman said the people of Balochistan were demanding the right to live safely above all else, noting that children and young people were being killed on a daily basis.
He said the people were patriotic and loved Pakistan, and urged the government to convene serious consultations with all political parties on the security crisis.
Opposition Leader Younas Aziz Zehri said terrorism could not be eliminated by evacuating Mastung or removing orchards in Khadkocha. He called for action against terrorists where they were operating and urged authorities not to harass ordinary citizens.
He also demanded an in-camera session to discuss the province’s security situation.
Provincial Minister Sadiq Umrani said the current situation was the result of policies pursued in the past. He said blowing up bridges could not bring freedom and that the majority of people in the province did not seek independence. He also supported an in-camera session.
Education Minister Raheela Hameed Durrani said the provincial government was taking serious measures to improve law and order, but the problems would persist unless all political parties sat together to find a solution.
MPA Syed Zafar Agha said the truth should be discussed in the assembly and urged lawmakers to review the situation during an in-camera session and formulate a future strategy. He also condemned the attack on Saranan Police Station.
MPA Fazal Qadir Mandokhail said no highway in Balochistan was safe and reiterated the demand for an in-camera session.
Health Minister Says Terrorism Requires Major Resources
Health Minister Bakht Muhammad Kakar said the law-and-order crisis in Balochistan was not new and that the province had experienced major terrorist attacks in the past.
He said even ambulances meant for ordinary citizens were being snatched and that substantial resources were required to secure every part of the province.
Kakar rejected the argument that terrorism could be attributed solely to unemployment, saying security forces were continuing operations against militants. He stressed the need to establish who was recruiting militants and supplying them with weapons.
Assembly Passes Acid Attack Prevention Resolution
The assembly also considered a resolution on legislation to prevent acid attacks in Balochistan.
MPA Shahida Rauf presented the resolution on behalf of the Women’s Parliamentary Caucus, condemning the acid attack on Dr. Mah Noor and calling for effective legislation to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Health Minister Bakht Muhammad Kakar said legislation was necessary to prevent acid attacks and that the provincial government would soon introduce a relevant bill in the assembly.
The House unanimously adopted the resolution. A heated exchange also took place among some lawmakers, briefly creating tension in the chamber. Women lawmakers later stood in solidarity with Dr. Mah Noor.
National Action Plan Resolution Approved
The assembly also approved a resolution moved by MPA Zamrak Khan Achakzai calling for effective implementation of the National Action Plan, decisive action against terrorism, extremism and unrest, and the exposure of terrorist elements and their facilitators.
The House also passed legislation concerning the protection and promotion of reproductive healthcare rights, construction of safe homes, and amendments to the Balochistan Employment of Children law.
Bills concerning the management and regulation of Balochistan’s water resources and amendments to the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898, were referred to the relevant standing committees.
CM Clarifies Position on Liquor Shops
Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti said liquor shops in the province were intended for non-Muslim citizens and had existed since before the creation of Pakistan.
He said he himself did not drink, adding that if any liquor shop had been named after a particular locality, the name would be changed.
At the beginning of the session, members offered Fateha for the young son of Speaker Abdul Khaliq Achakzai, children who died at PIMS and personnel of the security forces who were martyred.
