Balochistan Assembly: Lawmakers push for Khan of Kalat’s return

Resolution proposes a Jirga to negotiate the leader’s return from exile


Shezad Baloch October 01, 2014

QUETTA:


Balochistan Assembly on Tuesday passed a unanimous resolution to constitute an official jirga to negotiate the return of Baloch nationalist leader Khan of Kalat Prince Agha Suleman Dawood.


Dawood has been leading life in exile since the murder of Baloch leader Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti.

The resolution, which was tabled by Sardar Abdul Rehman Khethran of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) stated that the Balochistan government should constitute a jirga to hold negotiations with the dissident leader, paving way for his ultimate return.



“The official jirga [should] persuade him and bring him back to Balochistan with complete respect so that he could play a role to end the law and order problems. It will be helpful for the government to retain durable peace in the region,” he stated.

Delivering a fiery speech, the JUI-F lawmaker said that the government was unable to reach out to nationalist leaders who are living in self-imposed exile.

“Law and order in Balochistan is immensely disturbed for the past 10 years. Chief Minister Dr Malik Baloch has admitted that the law and order situation in Balochistan has deteriorated,” Khethran told the house.

Scoffing at the JUI-F leader, Provincial Information Minister Rahim Ziaratwal said that Khethran should focus on the resolution instead of tying it to the law and order situation.

“Khan of Kalat wants to restore the Independent State of Kalat. How is that possible?” the minister questioned.

Health Minister Rehmat Baloch blamed the opposition benches for the deteriorating law and order situation in the province, which triggered uproar in the house.

Defending the government’s performance, the minister said that “everyone should correct their record regarding the state of law and order in Balochistan because it is getting better.”

Shortly after the minister’s remarks, the session was punctuated by uproar as members from both sides of the political aisle exchanged barbs over the volatile situation in the province.

Three bills passed

Three bills — on salaries, allowance and privileges — were passed in the Balochistan Assembly on Monday.

Provincial Minister of Services and General Administration Nawab Mohammad Khan Shahwani moved the bills, including “Chief Minister and Provincial Ministers (Salaries, Allowance and Privileges) Act; Speaker, Deputy Speaker Balochistan (Salaries, Allowances, Privileges) Act and Members Balochistan Assembly (Salaries, Allowances and Privileges) Act.

The minister also moved a motion seeking an exemption for the bills from the Balochistan Assembly rules and conduct of business 1974. The house gave exemption to the bills of these rules.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 1st, 2014.

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