Reversion: State minister seeks perks of an MNA

Baloch says he has relinquished his position as state minister for communication

ISLAMABAD: The ruling party’s only MNA from Sindh, Abdul Hakeem Baloch – who is awaiting approval of his resignation from the portfolio of state minister for communication – has asked the National Assembly speaker for the perks and privileges of an MNA as he has relinquished his ministerial job.

In a letter, a copy of which is available with The Express Tribune, Baloch requested the speaker for allotment of apartment in the Parliament Lodges and restoration of salary, allowances and privileges which a Member of the National Assembly is entitled to.

“Your kind attention is invited towards the matter of my resignation from portfolio of state minister for communications which has been discussed time and again with your good self. I was waiting for positive response from the honourable prime minister but did not receive any response,” says the letter.

Baloch resubmitted resignation to the PM on May 26, this year. “Now it is requested to kindly fulfill my above mentioned plea and oblige, I, hereby, surrender all facilities provided to me as a state minister, looking forward to an immediate response from your good self.”

When contacted, Baloch said he had tendered his resignation from the post of state minister after he was highly disappointed by the PML-N and that he now wanted to revert to his actual position.

“So far, no one from the PML-N has approached me to talk about my resignation,” he said. Sharing the background, he said he wanted to initiate development work in Malir, Karachi, through establishing a public university, a trauma centre and by upgrading the road infrastructure. “For this, I requested for release of funds from the PML-N leadership but sadly I did not get even a single penny,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 28^th, 2016.