Balochistan Assembly: LG minister leaves assembly in a huff

Directs anger at bureaucracy for rendering him ‘powerless’

QUETTA: Provincial Minister for Local Government, Sardar Mustafa Khan Tareen, expressed rage over interference of bureaucracy into the affairs of local government, during the session of the Balochistan Assembly, on Friday.

During the session, chaired by Speaker Raheela Hameed Khan Durrani,  the minister for local government walked out of the house in protest and said that the elected representatives of local bodies have continuously been staging protest against ‘non-devolution of powers’  “Elected representatives of local bodies, all over Balochistan, are powerless,” he said.

He said that he was not informed about the transfer and posting in Local Government Department while he had the portfolio of this department. “Senior bureaucrats have taken total control of my department and they do not inform me or take me on board regarding transfer and posting of employees and funds and budget issues,” he said.

He said that he and the other elected representatives cannot perform any function due to the hurdles created by the continuous interference of bureaucracy “I am powerless minister. I will boycott assembly until my reservations are removed and bureaucracy avoids putting obstacles in the work of elected representatives of local bodies,” he said.

Later the minister was brought back to the house by the Provincial Minister for Planning and Development, Dr Hamid Khan Achakzai who assured him that his issues would be brought into the notice of chief minister.

Meanwhile, the house adopted two resolutions moved regarding the establishment of education commission and health commission to streamline policies and affairs of the two sectors.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 5^th, 2016.