Sanaullah insists on convening PA session

Writes letter to Balochistan Assembly speaker

QUETTA: Balochistan Assembly lawmaker Sanaullah Baloch in a letter written on Sunday to provincial assembly Speaker Abdul Quddos Bizenjo insisted on convening the assembly session amid widely spreading coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, across the province.

Earlier, on continuous demands of opposition parties to convene the assembly session and after they had filed the requisition for the session, Bizenjo urged the opposition parties to withdraw the requisition, saying that emergency had been imposed across the country due to increasing cases of coronavirus and it was time to tackle the virus and not to call assembly sessions.

Bizenjo had threatened opposition parties that he will reject the requisition if they didn’t withdraw it.

Sanaullah in his letter referred to the trying times across the province due to the rapidly rising number of deadly infections. “We have a duty to steer Balochistan and Pakistan out of the crisis and save lives of people by providing consultation, communication, coordination and unified provincial strategy which is only possible through a discussion of representatives in the assembly,” he wrote.

He voiced hope that the speaker would summon the assembly session after considering his letter in accordance with the rules and regulations enshrined in the Constitution.

The provincial lawmaker, who is affiliated with Balochistan National Party, suggested to the provincial health department to increase resources through timely review of management and mutual consultation within three months.

However, Sanaullah in his letter complained about the provincial government’s attitude over not considering the suggestions of opposition to tackle the coronavirus, presented on Feb 24 during the Balochistan Assembly session.

“The government initiated rash decisions in the wake of coronavirus causing loss of precious lives,” added Sanaullah.

He also demanded rehabilitation of 200 non-functional rural health centres across the province.

Urging the government to announce a health package for employees of health department, Sanaullah wrote, “The provincial government should announce a package for them (health workers) in order to increase their confidence in the wake of coronavirus  outbreak.”

Published in The Express Tribune, March 31^st, 2020.