Balochistan budget: Coalition partners clash over fund allocations

National Party lawmakers walk out after verbal spat with PMAP’s Liaquat Agha

QUETTA: Members of two coalition partners of the Balochistan government clashed on the floor of the assembly over allocation of funds and after a heated exchange of words, lawmakers of the National Party boycotted the proceedings of the Balochistan Assembly on Sunday.

The assembly started the general debate on the provincial budget and National Party’s MPA Khalid Lango, who was allowed to speak on the issue, lashed out at the government and said that his constituency was being bypassed.

Mir Khalid Lango congratulated the Minister for Planning and his Additional Chief Secretary, Planning and Development for serving their constituents by generously allocating funds.



Apparently, he said, the P&D Department did not represent Balochistan, but Qilla Abdullah and Zhob.

Criticising the Rs3 billion allocation of development funds for Qila Abdullah, he said that he would not object if an equal share of funds was spared for other districts as well.

He said that the additional chief secretary (development) was so powerful that he got Rs300 million for three police stations, Rs300 million for small dams and a separate allocation for road construction.

Pointing out the “unjust allocation of funds”, he said two separate allocations of Rs80 million and Rs50 million had been made for the same area.



He said that he had surrendered Rs22 million during the current fiscal year and he rightly expected the same to be returned for his constituency.

He maintained that only Rs4 million were allocated for his constituency which he strongly deplored.

Commenting on the late Samad Khan Achakzai, he said that the great leader always supported the oppressed and persistently highlighted the plight of the Pakhtuns.

But, he said, his son never talked about such issues.

“Apparently, he is more interested in developing Qila Abdullah, his constituency,” Lango said.



He pointed out that the provincial government had set aside Rs650 million for a college in Loralai and only Rs200 million for a college in Kalat.

“This is blatant discrimination,” Khalid Lango remarked.

According to him, he was merely demanding rights of his political constituents and the Chief Minister should seriously consider his demands before the budget was approved.

Subsequently, PMAP MPA Liaquat Agha took to the floor and allegedly made remarks, antagonising National Party lawmakers. There was a heated exchange among members of ruling coalition.



When the situation worsened, Speaker Raheela Durrani, ordered to shut the microphones.

At this stage, Finance Minister Sardar Aslam Bizenjo took to the floor and launched a frontal attack against the PMAP Minister for Planning and Development and the additional chief secretary.

He said under what kind of democracy a bureaucrat commandeered funds, securing resources allocated at his personal whim, while ignoring the entire house.

“If public servants are so powerful, elected representatives of the people have no right to sit in the House.”



Minister for Health Mir Rehmat Baloch said it was deplorable that the ministers and their functionaries disallowed the right to voice dissent on budget and other issues.

“If no one is ready to listen to our points of view, where do we go to complain,” he said.

Defending Mir Lango’s assertions, he said that Lango did not speak out against anyone. “He was merely presenting his point of view.”

When Liaquat Agha rose to counter these assertions, all members of the National Party staged a walkout from the assembly.



Later, the Speaker asked Sardar Abdul Rehman Khetran, Mir Asim Kurd, Sarfraz Bugti and Manzoor Kakar to persuade the National Party lawmakers to return to their seats.

When they returned, Rahim Ziaratwal apologised for Liaquat Agha’s remarks.

Urging all lawmakers to show more tolerance towards each other, Chief Minister Sardar Sanaullah Zehri said: “This is how democracy works.”

He said that all members of the assembly should follow good parliamentary practices and avoid offending other lawmakers.

Supplementary budget approved

The Balochistan Assembly on Sunday approved supplementary budget of Rs49.9 billon for the outgoing financial year.

Finance Minister Sardar Muhammad Aslam Bizenjo presented supplementary budget in the assembly. Speaker Raheela Hameed Khan Durrani presided over the session.

He moved as many as 19 demands for grant of Rs49.9 billion.

The house passed the supplementary budget after brief discussion.

Public Accounts Committee

Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Abdul Majeed Khan Achakzai took serious notice of the words spoken by the secretary finance during the post-budget session.

He said that he would be summoned in the next budget session and asked to submit an explanation.

He advised secretary finance to focus on reducing corruption in Finance Department, saying that if bureaucrats were keen to take part in politics, they should resign before doing so.

Speaking to media persons after the assembly session, he said that PAC had pointed out the existence of ghost employees in all departments.



“It is now the responsibility of the government and departments concerned to unmask the actual culprits, besides identifying those who facilitated their recruitment.”

He said that PAC had also pointed out that it was crucial to carry out an audit of the finance department to curb corruption.

“No audit of the finance department has been carried out over the past 40 years. There are some schemes which have been in progress since 2002 and are still incomplete.”