Heated Upheaval in Balochistan Assembly Over Abolition of Sardari System; Maulana Hidayat-ur-Rehman and Younus Zehri Exchange Bitter Remarks

QUETTA (Daily Qudrat Quetta): During a debate in the Balochistan Assembly session on the resolution concerning the abolition of the Sardari system, opposition members Maulana Hidayat-ur-Rehman Baloch and Leader of the Opposition Mir Younus Aziz Zehri exchanged harsh words, while an uproar also erupted in the House. Following a ruling by the Speaker of the Balochistan Assembly, the resolution on abolishing the Sardari system was disposed of. The session also discussed important matters, including granting full university status to the Balochistan University sub-campus in Pishin district, construction of roads in Mashkhel district, and a draft law for the Mir Ghulam Qadir Bugti School of Excellence in North Dera Bugti.

During the session, former Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch, opposing any deduction from Balochistan’s share in the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award, stressed that all political leaders of the province should unite on this matter, while Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti criticised the performance of the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) in Balochistan.

The Balochistan Assembly session began 45 minutes late under the chair of Speaker Captain (Retd) Abdul Khaliq Achakzai. During the session, MPA Maulana Hidayat-ur-Rehman Baloch presented an adjournment motion regarding traffic accidents on national highways, the provision of immediate medical aid to the injured, and making medical emergency response centres more effective.

On this occasion, Provincial Health Minister Bakht Muhammad Kakar said that 39 medical emergency centres are operational on eight national highways in Balochistan, where measures are taken to provide immediate medical aid to those injured in traffic accidents and to transfer them to hospitals.

During the session, an adjournment motion by MPA Rahmat Saleh Baloch regarding removing Panjgur district from the list of cold areas and including it in warm areas was also presented; however, it was disposed of after the Chief Minister of Balochistan’s assurance.

Speaking on a point of order in the House, former Chief Minister of Balochistan Dr Abdul Malik Baloch said that the government does not have money to run government offices, but on the other hand, talk of creating new provinces is being made. He said the federal government cannot be allowed to deduct from Balochistan’s share in the NFC Award, and all political forces must unite on this matter.

He warned that if Balochistan’s political leaders do not unite on this important matter, the province may have to look toward Islamabad every month even to pay salaries. Dr Abdul Malik Baloch also criticised the performance of the National Highway Authority (NHA), saying the institution is not working effectively in Balochistan and its project directors do not even come to the province.

Chief Minister of Balochistan Mir Sarfraz Bugti, speaking in the House, said that the experience of working with the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) in Balochistan has not been good, and the condition of roads built in his own area has also deteriorated.

He said that projects are given to FWO in the hope that it will do quality work, but this has not happened. According to him, the institution, after securing projects, hands them over to petty contractors, which raises questions about the quality of construction work.

The Chief Minister said it is necessary to inform the people of Balochistan of the facts. Condemning incidents of closing roads, destroying bridges and burning construction machinery, he said that if those claiming Baloch nationalism are involved in such actions, they cannot be well-wishers of the Baloch nation.

During the session, the resolution by Maulana Hidayat-ur-Rehman Baloch regarding the abolition of the Sardari system and the writing and speaking of the words “Sardar” and “Nawab” could not be presented. Speaker Abdul Khaliq Achakzai informed the House that Maulana Hidayat-ur-Rehman Baloch had submitted a resolution for the abolition of the Sardari system and had been promised that it would be included in the agenda.

According to the Speaker, the government and judicial record regarding the resolution was reviewed, according to which a resolution for the abolition of the Sardari system had also been passed in 1976. On this basis, he ruled that Maulana Hidayat-ur-Rehman Baloch’s resolution be disposed of rather than presented in the House.

Later, Maulana Hidayat-ur-Rehman Baloch, speaking in the House, said he would amend the resolution and present it again. During this, Leader of the Opposition Mir Younus Aziz Zehri took the position that when the resolution has been disposed of, it is not appropriate to discuss the matter again. On this, harsh words were exchanged between the two leaders and an uproar broke out in the House.

The Speaker clarified that Maulana Hidayat-ur-Rehman Baloch wants to speak on legislation regarding the abolition of the Sardari system, while the resolution has already been disposed of. He said there is no problem in speaking about the implementation of the existing law.

The Balochistan Assembly approved a resolution granting full university status to the Balochistan University sub-campus in Pishin district. The resolution was presented by opposition MPA Asghar Tareen. The resolution said that due to the absence of a full university for Pishin district’s population of approximately one million, male and female students have to turn to Quetta and other cities of the province for higher education, which particularly causes difficulties for students from poor families.

Asghar Tareen said that despite limited resources, thousands of male and female students are pursuing higher education at the Balochistan University sub-campus; however, granting it full university status will improve educational facilities in the area.

Provincial Interior Minister Mir Ziaullah Langove, supporting the resolution, said that nations progress when they acquire higher education. The House then approved the resolution.

During the session, Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti presented a draft law regarding the Mir Ghulam Qadir Bugti School of Excellence in North Dera Bugti, which the Balochistan Assembly approved.

Similarly, MPA Mir Zabid Riki presented a resolution regarding the construction of roads in Mashkhel district, which the House approved.

During the session, various matters of public importance were also discussed, including Maulana Hidayat-ur-Rehman Baloch’s adjournment motion regarding accidents on national highways and medical aid.

Later, after quorum was pointed out in the Assembly, the session was adjourned until 3 pm on November 10.