Members of United Opposition Balochistan hold anti-government placards near the provincial Secretariat in Quetta. PHOTO: PPI
QUETTA: Opposition parties on Thursday staged a protest rally from the Balochistan Assembly to the Chief Minister House, where they staged a sit-in against Jam Kamal led provincial government’s “negligence” and “incompetence.”
The rally led by Balochistan Assembly’s Leader of Opposition Malik Sikandar Khan chanted anti-government slogans as it marched through Quetta’s Zarghoon before entering the red-zone.
The protestors alleged that the government is not paying attention to the provincial issues.
They also claimed that the coalition government is also interfering in opposition’s constituencies and neglecting the worsening law and order situation and burgeoning inflation.
Taking a dig at the provincial government, Malik Sikandar said the people of Balochistan are in the grip of terrorism but the chief minister is busy in ingratiating himself with hunters from oil rich gulf countries.
“The Quetta blast victims have been fighting for their lives but provincial government is busy in celebrating Sibi Mela instead of offering fateha for victims of last week’s blast. Kamal even went to say goodbye to a royal,” Sikandar said.
Terrorists on February 17 targeted a rally in Quetta killing at least 15 people while injuring as many.
He said inflation has reached its peak in Balohcistan and even edibles items are drifted away from access of poor people. He alleged that the CM is awarding schemes worth of Rs20 billion to the ruling coalition’s MNAs.
“The CM House is completely out of bounds for the opposition members but the treasury members are attempting to interfere in our constituencies which wouldn’t be tolerated,” he added.
Opposition members Sanaullah Baloch, Fazal Agha, Shakeela Dehwar, Younus Zehri, Naseer Shahwani, Ahmed Nawaz Baloch, Akbar Mengal and others also chanted slogans against the coalition government.
The opposition members also mocked President Arif Alvi, who fumbled while pronouncing names of Balochistan’s governor and chief minister at Sibi Mela’s inauguration ceremony.
Addressing the protestors, MPA Akhtar Hussain Langau said instead of providing relief to the suppressed people of Balochistan, the provincial government is increasing inflation, corruption and uncertainty.
“The united opposition would continue protests against flawed policies of Jam government while our workers would jam the government across Balochistan,” Langau said playing with words.
Talking to the journalists at the sit-in, Shakeela Dehwar said the poor is deprived of all facilities as inflation has skyrocketed. “Nothing is left for the people of Balohcistan under the current government as the law and order situation is turning from bad to worse with each passing day,” she added.
A delegation of the provincial government, comprising Khaliq Hazara, Saleem Khosa, Zamrak Achakzai and Mubeen Khilji, tried to negotiate with the protesting parliamentarians but failed to persuade them.
The opposition threatened to continue the protest outside the Chief Minister House in future until the government addresses provincial issues.
A statement later issued by the Balochistan government spokesperson said the negotiating team listened to the opposition’s complaint about interference in their constituencies and informed the CM about the talks.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 22nd, 2020.
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