Opposition Leader Questions Transparency in Balochistan Forest Department Recruitment
QUETTA: The issue of alleged corruption and irregularities in recruitment in the Balochistan Forest Department echoed in the provincial assembly, with Opposition Leader Mir Younis Aziz Zehri raising serious questions over the government’s procedure and transparency.
Speaking on a point of order during the assembly session, Mir Younis Aziz Zehri said the Balochistan chief minister had announced a formal inquiry into allegations of corruption in the recruitment process. However, he said it had now emerged that the posts in question had been cancelled instead.
The opposition leader questioned why an inquiry committee had not yet been constituted to properly investigate the allegations. He alleged that the government had assured the assembly that the matter would be decided on the floor of the house, but the process was instead carried out by bypassing the assembly and conducting matters “under the table.”
Assembly Speaker Abdul Khaliq Achakzai rejected the opposition leader’s objections, ruling that nothing had been done “under the table” and that all steps were being taken transparently before the house and its members.
The speaker explained that the inquiry committee could not be formed immediately because he had been abroad. He assured the house that the committee would formally be constituted within the next two days.
During the session, Provincial Minister Noor Muhammad Dummar also spoke on the matter, saying he was grateful to the Balochistan chief minister for taking immediate notice of his complaint.
Dummar said the chief minister had not only expressed satisfaction over the complaint but had also taken the matter seriously and initiated prompt action.
