Lawmakers reject govt’s proposal to cut NFC share
MPA Zehri says provincial share could not be cut without suspending Constitution
Balochistan Assembly. PHOTO: EXPRESS
QUETTA:
Provincial legislators on Thursday rejected the proposal of reducing provinces’ share in National Finance Commission (NFC) Award by adjudicating it to be against the 1973 Constitution and the 18th amendment.
These views were expressed by lawmaker Nasrullah Khan Zehri in Balochistan Assembly’s session which was presided over by Deputy Speaker Sardar Babar Musa Khel.
Moving an adjournment motion regarding a proposal to reduce Balochistan’s share in NFC award, Zehri said that the provincial government needs to take effective measures to overcome financial crisis.
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The opposition member Sanaullah Baloch said that the incumbent government could not reduce the shares of the provinces without suspending the Constitution.
Speaking on a point of order BNP-M leader Akhtar Hussain Langove called the attention of the house on the burgeoning land grabbing in Quetta’s only sports complex – Ayoub Stadium.
He claimed that “Despite Balochistan High Court’s ruling, numerous provincial departments were busy in grabbing land of Ayoub Sports Complex. In 2016 when Anti-Terrorist Force (ATF) grabbed land of Sports Complex the court intervened in the issue and evacuated the land.”
Langove demanded that revenue department submit report of departments involved in alleged grabbing of sports complex’s land.
To this, Minister for Communication and Works Nawabzada Tariq Magsi assured the house that the issue would be discussed with the chief minister.
Newly-elected MPA Nawab Aslam Raisani lamented over the absence of ministers from the assembly sessions and asked the house to call the standing committee’s session to form government committees.
In response, deputy speaker said the government can’t form committees as the leader of the opposition is yet to be announced.
Submitting the call of attention notice in the house, opposition members Sanaullah Baloch and Malik Naseer Shahwani asked the government about its intention to sack 361 employees appointed in the Communication and Works Department.
In reply, Magsi said, the government won’t take any action unless the constituted committee submits its report. “The department has decided to take action against employees appointed with fake degrees … and they would be sacked.”
The opposition members demanded to digitalise the mechanism of the assembly affairs as the old pattern was causing confusion among members.
Over opposition’s request, the lawmakers replied they would inform the CM for digitalising the administrative affairs of the assembly.
Meanwhile, citing the increasing deprivation among the people of the province, the Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) leader Sanaullah Baloch tabled a resolution regarding the share of Balochistan in $62 billion investment under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in Pakistan.
He lamented that under the ‘mammoth’ of investment in the country, Balochistan has been ‘deliberately neglected’. The BNP-M leader said on the western route the Chinese Companies have “installed energy plants, constructed infrastructure and laying down fiber optic, ironically in 14 energy plants, not a single energy project was included for Balochistan.”
Baloch demanded the provincial government to approach the center and form a national commission over the issue.
He asked the house to prorogue the resolution for debate till next session as majority of members was absent. Over the request deputy speaker gave the rulling to continue the debate on the next session.
Moreover, the Balochistan Assembly unanimously passed a resolution demanding the Supreme Court to review its judgment on the acquittal of Asia Bibi who was on death row on the charges of blasphemy.
Presenting the bill in the house, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) leader Malik Sikander Khan Advocate said the top court verdict has left the country under the grip of uncertainty. The issue must be handled following the ideology of Pakistan as “we can’t compromise on blasphemy,” he said.
“Despite being aware of the sensitivity of the issue,” the JUI-F leader said the incumbent government threatened the protesters. He said the government is against the mindset that was trying to create chaos in the country.
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“We are not against the court’s judgement,” Khan said but it has ignited people’s emotions. Khan demanded the top court to review its decision to appease the sentiments of the nation.
Speaking at the floor of the house, Balochistan National Party leader Sanaullah Baloch demanded constitution of a committee comprising of top religious scholars.
“Being a Muslim we can’t tolerate insolence of our Prophet (PBUH) who always fostered peace in the world, the august court should review its judgement to fill the aspects of justice,” he added.
After deputy speaker’s rulling over the resolution and votes, the assembly unanimously adopted the resolution.
[WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM APP]
Provincial legislators on Thursday rejected the proposal of reducing provinces’ share in National Finance Commission (NFC) Award by adjudicating it to be against the 1973 Constitution and the 18th amendment.
These views were expressed by lawmaker Nasrullah Khan Zehri in Balochistan Assembly’s session which was presided over by Deputy Speaker Sardar Babar Musa Khel.
Moving an adjournment motion regarding a proposal to reduce Balochistan’s share in NFC award, Zehri said that the provincial government needs to take effective measures to overcome financial crisis.
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The opposition member Sanaullah Baloch said that the incumbent government could not reduce the shares of the provinces without suspending the Constitution.
Speaking on a point of order BNP-M leader Akhtar Hussain Langove called the attention of the house on the burgeoning land grabbing in Quetta’s only sports complex – Ayoub Stadium.
He claimed that “Despite Balochistan High Court’s ruling, numerous provincial departments were busy in grabbing land of Ayoub Sports Complex. In 2016 when Anti-Terrorist Force (ATF) grabbed land of Sports Complex the court intervened in the issue and evacuated the land.”
Langove demanded that revenue department submit report of departments involved in alleged grabbing of sports complex’s land.
To this, Minister for Communication and Works Nawabzada Tariq Magsi assured the house that the issue would be discussed with the chief minister.
Newly-elected MPA Nawab Aslam Raisani lamented over the absence of ministers from the assembly sessions and asked the house to call the standing committee’s session to form government committees.
In response, deputy speaker said the government can’t form committees as the leader of the opposition is yet to be announced.
Submitting the call of attention notice in the house, opposition members Sanaullah Baloch and Malik Naseer Shahwani asked the government about its intention to sack 361 employees appointed in the Communication and Works Department.
In reply, Magsi said, the government won’t take any action unless the constituted committee submits its report. “The department has decided to take action against employees appointed with fake degrees … and they would be sacked.”
The opposition members demanded to digitalise the mechanism of the assembly affairs as the old pattern was causing confusion among members.
Over opposition’s request, the lawmakers replied they would inform the CM for digitalising the administrative affairs of the assembly.
Meanwhile, citing the increasing deprivation among the people of the province, the Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) leader Sanaullah Baloch tabled a resolution regarding the share of Balochistan in $62 billion investment under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in Pakistan.
He lamented that under the ‘mammoth’ of investment in the country, Balochistan has been ‘deliberately neglected’. The BNP-M leader said on the western route the Chinese Companies have “installed energy plants, constructed infrastructure and laying down fiber optic, ironically in 14 energy plants, not a single energy project was included for Balochistan.”
Baloch demanded the provincial government to approach the center and form a national commission over the issue.
He asked the house to prorogue the resolution for debate till next session as majority of members was absent. Over the request deputy speaker gave the rulling to continue the debate on the next session.
Moreover, the Balochistan Assembly unanimously passed a resolution demanding the Supreme Court to review its judgment on the acquittal of Asia Bibi who was on death row on the charges of blasphemy.
Presenting the bill in the house, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) leader Malik Sikander Khan Advocate said the top court verdict has left the country under the grip of uncertainty. The issue must be handled following the ideology of Pakistan as “we can’t compromise on blasphemy,” he said.
“Despite being aware of the sensitivity of the issue,” the JUI-F leader said the incumbent government threatened the protesters. He said the government is against the mindset that was trying to create chaos in the country.
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“We are not against the court’s judgement,” Khan said but it has ignited people’s emotions. Khan demanded the top court to review its decision to appease the sentiments of the nation.
Speaking at the floor of the house, Balochistan National Party leader Sanaullah Baloch demanded constitution of a committee comprising of top religious scholars.
“Being a Muslim we can’t tolerate insolence of our Prophet (PBUH) who always fostered peace in the world, the august court should review its judgement to fill the aspects of justice,” he added.
After deputy speaker’s rulling over the resolution and votes, the assembly unanimously adopted the resolution.
[WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM APP]