CM Balochistan Jam Kamal Khan. PHOTO: EXPRESS
Addressing a joint press conference at the Balochistan Assembly, the opposition members and traders representatives on Wednesday announced to bring the shutters down on May 17 in order to lodge protest against provincial government’s failure in maintaining law and order and controlling inflation.
Balochistan Assembly Opposition Leader Malik Sikandar, Malik Naseer Shahwani, Nasrullah Zeeray, Akhtar Hussain Langove as well as Traders Association President Abdul Raheem Kakar and other leaders were present in the news conference.
“The opposition parties shared various recommendations in order to save provincial budget from being lapsed but the provincial government didn’t take our debates in the BA sessions seriously,” Sikandar said adding that 80% provincial budget is going to lapse, something that will not be good for the economy.
He said: “The president and prime minister visited Balochistan but didn’t announce any relief package for the victims of torrential rain and floods.”
Sharing views on recent rise in violence, he said the law and order situation is being disturbed in Balochistan while despite presence of security forces, terrorist attacked Gwadar’s most secured luxury hotel which has put a question mark over provincial government’s claims about security,
“In view of the provincial government’s failure in maintaining law and order and its incompetence, we have decided to call a strike in Quetta on May 17,” he said.
The traders association president said since the new government came into power, the poor have been further burdened with inflation which clearly shows failure of the federal and provincial governments.
“Unfortunately, the district administration is deliberately disturbing local businessmen community. The butcher community had agreed to sell beef and mutton at approved rates but inappropriate attitude of the district administration has forced them to call a strike,” he added.
Taking the jibe at the provincial government over misuse of the Public Sector Development Fund (PSDP) for 2018-19, the BNP’s Malik Naseer Shahwani said people of Balochistan do not see any development project while the opposition’s stance over lapse of funds has proven true.
“The current government is not able to start work on the high court’s proposed sectors while Chief Minister Jam Kamal’s government has not shown seriousness in resolving various provincial issues.”
Balochistan Public Accounts Committee Chairman Akhtar Hussain Langove alleged that the district administration was busy in taking extortion money from poor vegetable vendors and push-cart drivers.
“Despite their claims, sacrificial animals are being smuggled to Punjab, Iran and Afghanistan which has forced local beef and mutton association to increase prices during the holy month,” Langove said, adding that the state is responsible to provide relief to people.
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