Zehri, Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) Balochistan chief, termed the government's claims of improvement in the security situation “a pack of lies,” while standing inches away from Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch in the assembly.
“I lost my son and relatives. Their killers are roaming around with complete impunity,” Zehri cried.
The Assembly session was convened after PML-N and opposition members had submitted a plea to discuss the law and order situation in the province.
PML-N, which is a major coalition partner of the Balochistan government, subjected the provincial administration to severe criticism for not taking action against groups involved in targeted killings of settlers, polio workers, government officials and the suicide attack on Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) Chief Maulana Fazalur Rehman.
The House also unanimously passed a resolution condemning the targeted killings of JUI-F Sindh General Secretary Dr Khalid Mehmood Sommro, four vaccinators and the suicide attack on the JUI-F chief.
The Assembly demanded that perpetrators of these crimes should be arrested immediately.
Zehri threatened to exit the coalition and urge the central leadership to stop supporting the provincial government if the latter fails to take stern action against armed groups in the province.
“We had given National Party (NP) an opportunity for restoring peace, but it has failed to do so,” Zehri lamented.
“My party is part of the government and a senior member is the Home minister but I admit that law and order situation is terrible,” he said, adding that, “the government could not arrest the murderers of my son. Then, how can the common man expect justice because I am a senior minister.”
Referring to the separatists, Zehri said that a few boys had held District Police Officer (DPO) Turbat hostage for five days in an area from where the Balochistan CM hails from.
Will address concerns of coalition partner: Baloch
Under fire Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch said on Saturday that he will quit when he feels he has lost support.
“When I feel I am losing the confidence of the members [of the Assembly], I will quit with dignity,” he told the reporters at Balochistan Assembly building on Saturday after the proceedings.
Having faced severe criticism from his main coalition partner on the floor of the house on Saturday, a beleaguered Dr Baloch said all was not lost.
“There could be differences within the coalition government but I believe I still have the confidence of a majority of the members.”
He added that the current law and order situation should be compared with that under the previous regime. “We take the criticism constructively. It is the beauty of democracy that criticism tolerated.”
The chief minister vowed to address concerns of his coalition partner.
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Mr Zehri has lost his son and he should get justice for that. But I don't know how Mr. Zehri is connecting the arrest of his son's killers to the CM of the province? And then bringing all the attacks "groups involved in targeted killings of settlers, polio workers, government officials and the suicide attack on Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) Chief Maulana Fazalur Rehman" tied to the CM post. Mr. Zehri we are having law enforcement agencies. When they are independent in launching actions against those who, they see as anti state. Then how will they ask Dr. Malik Baloch for a permission? And Dr. Malik Baloch is an elected CM, but we know better that in Pakistan the law and order situation are related to our law enforcement agencies. Malik and his coalition partners including your [party] have several times launched high profile meetings of the law enforcement agencies. I remember when SBK University was attacked and political leadership, PM, Governor, CM, COAS and ISI chief held the security meeting for the first time in Quetta. I hope Dr. Malik and his coalition has never stopped their efforts regarding restoring security to the province. But you can at the same time observe the security situation of the province has improved much than the previous government. Mr. Zehri you can support Dr. Baloch for improving situation regarding security but that should not be a matter of bringing him down. Otherwise, the earlier JUI and PML-Q won't be a good option for new government led by you.