Balochistan Assembly: JUI-F abstains from pro-Zardari resolution

QUETTA: Lawmakers belonging to the Fazlur Rehman faction of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) abstained from the proceedings of the Balochistan Assembly on Friday after the house took up a joint resolution to express full confidence in the leadership of President Asif Ali Zardari.

The resolution was in support of President Zardari retaining his positions as the president of Pakistan and the co-chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).

No member of the party attended the assembly proceedings while the resolution was being tabled. “The JUI-F…kept quiet (on the issue) in a bid not to offend the federal government,” an insider said.

While tabling the resolution, PPP’s Sadiq Umrani said that President Zardari had been elected after securing 481 votes from the National Assembly and Senate which shows that he enjoyed full support and confidence of the representatives of entire Pakistan. The resolution was approved unanimously by 20 lawmakers. Federal Minister for Law and Justice Babar Awan also attended the session.

Members of the provincial assembly also condemned targeted killings in Karachi and urged the federal and Sindh governments to take concrete steps in this regard.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 29^th,  2011.