MMA slams nationalists for ‘poor performance’

Maulana Ghafoor Haidri promises to turn Quetta into a mega city

QUETTA: Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal Secretary General Maulana Ghafoor Haidri on Wednesday said that the nationalist government in Balochistan was busy looting public funds instead of working in the interest of the public during the last five years.

Addressing a public gathering after inaugurating Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-F’s (JUI-F) Anwar Shah Kashmiri Election Unit in Quetta, Haidri said, “MMA and JUI-F have pledged better infrastructure including health and education for the people of Balochistan… if we reach Parliament through public mandate, people would be owner of their resources here.”

He criticised nationalist political parties, which ruled in the province for the last five years. “Despite spending billions of rupees on public infrastructure, people of Balochistan are still deprived of clean drinking water, health and education,” he added.

He said that the future generation of the province is compelled to live under humanitarian crisis since previous governments have left nothing for them and “filled their bank accounts with mega corruption.”

Haidri pledged that MMA and JUI-F will turn Quetta into a mega city with lavish development and basic facilities after getting in power through public votes. “There was a time when people from other provinces were visiting to enjoy the weather and beauty of Quetta but today our city is among the worst cities for living in the world.”

With regards to natural resources of Balochistan, Haidri said that they have decided to decide the due share of people of Balochistan on “all natural resources existing in our soil.”



“People of Balochistan would be owner of Rekodik, no one would be able to steal the rights of people of Balochistan.” Haidri said adding “if we failed to deliver our promises we will present ourselves for public accountability.”

MMA reservations over elections 

MMA Balochistan on Tuesday showed its reservation on the impartiality of general elections, alleging that former government ministers were involved in buying votes from public funds in the province.

MMA has urged Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and Interim Federal Government to replace Governors in the four provinces to push the country towards free and fair elections.

“All political parties have been contesting elections in Balochistan, public representatives should reach Assembly through votes,” claimed Haidri, Dr Atta ur Rehman and other MMA leadership while addressing a joint press conference in Quetta Press Club.

With regards to the differences in MMA over election tickets, former senator Hafiz Hamdullah said that the alliance of five religious political parties was participating in election in Balochistan.

“Though there were differences in MMA over elections tickets, we are precluded to follow the decision of our central leaderships and the issue had been sorted out,” Hafiz Hamdullah said.

“Following the decision of senior leaderships, JUI F’s candidate Abdul Bari Achakzai has withdrawn his nomination in favor of JI on PB-27 while JUI F’s candidate Rozi Khan has withdrawn his papers in favor of Tehreek-e-Islami’s Liaquat Ali.” Hafiz Hamdullah added.



Meanwhile, Haidri said that Balochistan has been facing financial crisis due to flawed policies of previous government.

“JUI-F and MMA won’t let anyone steal our public mandate, we bore the loss in 2013 and halted our workers from resistance, but in 2018 we won’t let anyone rig the elections,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 5^th, 2018