Balochistan minister slams opposition for ‘spreading disinformation’

Defends provincial govt’s 10-month performance

QUETTA: Balochistan Agriculture Minister Zamrak Khan Achakzai said on Sunday that the opposition parties had the right to protest but instead of spreading disinformation they should review their own performance while they were in power.

“Unfortunately they have been questioning our 10-month performance. They should take look at their own five-year performance instead,” he said while meeting a delegation of students in the provincial capital.

The minister said a society could not progress without education and it was necessary to educate children for the province’s future.

“A century ago, Bacha Khan struggled for educational development in tribal areas and requested Pashtuns to pursue this path,” he added.

“The provincial government is steps to ensure the development of the educational and healthcare sectors and a change will be seen in the coming months.”

On Friday, the business fraternity observed a complete strike in Balochistan’s provincial capital to protest against rising inflation and worsening law and order in the province.

The strike was announced by opposition parties and traders association during a press conference at the Balochistan Assembly.  On Friday, business activities in Quetta came to a halt while traffic on roads also thinned out considerably. The opposition parties also staged a protest demonstration outside the Quetta Press Club and chanted slogans against provincial government.

Balochistan Public Accounts Committee Chairman Akhtar Hussan Langove, chief of Sarawan Nawab Aslam Raisani, Pashtookhwa Milli Awami Party’s (PkMAP) Nasrullah Zeeray, the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) leaders and Anjuman-e-Tajiran leaders also addressed the protesters.

Akhtar Hussain Langove reiterated concerns about the lapse of funds.

“The development process in the province has stopped due to flawed policies of Jam Kamal led provincial government but we with the support of people would continue demanding due rights of people of Balochistan,” Langove said.

JUI-F leader Abdul Haq said the provincial government did not clear its position on the Public Sector Development Fund (PSDP). “Eighty per cent funds of the PSDP have lapsed in the least developed province which shows the incompetence of the current government,” he said.

The opposition parties and traders’ union lamented over burgeoning inflation in the country which, they said, is making poor people’s lives tougher.

“Disturbed law and order in the last two months has harmed our businesses but provincial government has not done anything to improve the situation,” Abdul Raheem Kakar added.