NA Speaker Ayaz Sadiq Meets Balochistan CM Sarfraz Bugti, Government and Opposition Members
QUETTA: National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq visited the Chief Minister’s Secretariat in Quetta on Wednesday and met Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti, members of the provincial cabinet, and government and opposition lawmakers.
During the meeting, the participants discussed matters of mutual interest, the development of Balochistan, public issues, and the promotion of democratic and parliamentary traditions in the province.
Welcoming Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti said his visit to Balochistan was a matter of pleasure and honour. He said Balochistan was a home for everyone and that democratic traditions, mutual respect and political tolerance existed between the government and opposition in the province.
The chief minister said members of the government and opposition in the Balochistan Assembly certainly criticized each other, but strong traditions of morality, civility and mutual respect remained in place.
He said differences of opinion were a fundamental feature of democracy and that criticizing the government was the opposition’s democratic right. However, he added, keeping political differences within the bounds of mutual respect was part of Balochistan’s positive political tradition.
Mir Sarfraz Bugti said government and opposition lawmakers sitting together reflected the province’s positive political culture and democratic maturity. He added that mutual respect and dialogue among political leaders conveyed a positive message about Balochistan to visitors from other parts of the country and abroad.
He expressed hope that the traditions of tolerance, harmony and mutual respect in Balochistan would continue to grow stronger.
Speaking on the occasion, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq expressed his longstanding affection and connection with Balochistan, saying his relationship with the province was not merely political but also emotional and familial.
He said his family had maintained ties with Balochistan for three generations and that their affection for the province had continued from one generation to another.
Ayaz Sadiq said Balochistan was not unfamiliar to him and that he had a longstanding and deep relationship with its people.
“Whenever I come to Balochistan, I always feel a sense of belonging and affection,” he said, adding that the people of the province had always treated him with respect, love and sincerity.
The National Assembly speaker said the land, people and traditions of Balochistan held special significance for him and that he remained grateful for the affection and sincerity shown by its people.
He said his doors were always open to all members from Balochistan and every citizen of the province. He assured that the National Assembly would provide all possible support for resolving public issues and promoting the development of Balochistan.
Ayaz Sadiq said Balochistan was one of Pakistan’s most important provinces and that the development of Balochistan was, in fact, the development of the entire country.
He said the federal government would continue providing every possible support for the development, prosperity and resolution of the problems faced by the people of Balochistan.
The speaker also praised the hospitality of the people of Balochistan, saying their warmth and hospitality were unparalleled. He said every visit to the province made him feel as though he had returned to his own people and home.
During the meeting, Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti and Speaker Ayaz Sadiq agreed that greater mutual respect, consultation and cooperation among political leaders was essential for the development of Balochistan, public welfare and the promotion of democratic values.
