Jhattak urges govt to protest against cut in development funds

PPP leader threatens ‘big’ protest if step not withdrawn


NEWS DESK November 12, 2018
PPP provincial President Ali Madad Jhattak. PHOTO: PPI

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Balochistan President Sardar Mir Ali Madad Jhattak has called upon the provincial government to protest against the federal government for slashing the province’s development fund by Rs500 million.

“Any further decrease in the fund will result in more poverty in the province,” said Jhattak on Sunday while speaking to a delegation of the party’s minority wing led by President Chaudhry Salamat.

“Such an attitude with a province rich in natural resources is against democracy,” he said and threatened a ‘big’ protest in case the step was not withdrawn.

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“PPP will not remain silent,” Jhattak said, adding that by cutting Rs500 million from the development fund, the federal government had pushed the province into further backwardness.

“The Centre has neglected Balochistan, and the provincial government’s silence is a matter of grave concern,” said the PPP leader and called upon other political parties to stand up in protest.

Jhattak condemned the abduction of Naseerabad trader Nawaz Mengal, and said the government had failed to ensure security to people’s lives and properties. The incident raised so many questions on the governance of the rulers, he added.

The criticism of the incumbent government by the opposition parties has grown.

During an assembly session on November 3, the opposition parties had criticised the government of Chief Minister Jam Kamal for “repeating the mistakes of the previous regime by keeping agreements signed with the Chinese government hidden from the public”.

Speaking on the floor of the assembly, Sanaullah Baloch of the Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) had said the prime minister should take the Balochistan Assembly into confidence regarding the agreements being signed in China about the future of the province.

He had said the Government of Pakistan had decided to take assistance from China for eradicating poverty, demanding of the government to prioritise Balochistan on any programmes against poverty.

With regard to the BNP-M’s six-point accord with the PTI government, Baloch said party chief Sardar Akthar Jan Mengal had informed the federal government that its implementation was necessary to address the issues of the province.

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