Grisly Balochistan murders echo in NA

Speaker says Centre sought report on killing of woman, her two sons in Barkhan area

ISLAMABAD:

The National Assembly lawmakers on Wednesday expressed deep regret over the tragic killing of three people -- a woman and her two sons -- in the Barkhan area of Balochistan.

They demanded an immediate investigation and punishment for those involved in the heinous crime.

NA Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf informed the lower house that the federal government had sought a report on the incident.

Jamaat-e-Islami MNA Maulana Abdul Akbar Chitrali, while speaking in the House about the tragedy in Balochistan, pointed out that before the murder, the woman had sworn upon the Holy Quran that her children were in Sardar Abdul Rehman Khetran’s captivity.

Her relatives have been protesting with the bodies since Tuesday, he added.

He demanded that the speaker should give a ruling for the registration of a FIR against the killer.

MNA Saira Bano of the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) noted that there was extreme cruelty and brutality in Balochistan.

Speaking on other issues, the GDA lawmaker claimed that she had no  hope for justice.

“The NAB [National Accountability Bureau] chairman resigned yesterday. NAB was created to suppress opponents,” she lamented.

“There is also a request from the judiciary to see who is suppressing the head of such a major institution [NAB],” she added.

MQM-P MNA Muhammad Abu Bakr said that the incident in Balochistan was deplorable.

Commenting on the rising inflation, he said the prices of food items for the middle class had increased beyond its range.

“I will request the government to announce relief for motorcyclists,” he added.

The Code of Civil Procedure Amendment Bill 2023 was introduced in the House as well.

The bill was presented by the Parliamentary Secretary Zeb Jafar and the speaker forwarded it to the relevant committee.

The report of the NA Standing Committee on Interior on the Forensic Science Agency Bill was presented by its chairman, estranged PTI MNA Ahmed Hussain Deharr.

Moreover, the report of another standing committee on the Immigrants Amendment Bill 2023 was presented in the House by the body’s chairman, PML-N MNA Sheikh Fayazuddin.

PML-N lawmaker Dr Shaista Pervaiz noted that women were restricted to a single room at Gomal University.

“First, they will confine women to a room, then they will deprive them of education,” she said, adding that she registered her protest in the House against the incident.

The speaker said that the education minister should explain what was happening at Gomal University in the assembly.

JUI-F’s Muhammad Jamalud Din, while addressing the House, claimed that an "unethical" question was asked in an examination paper from students of COMSATS University Islamabad.

The speaker stopped him from talking about the matter, saying that “immoral talk” was not allowed.

“I cannot allow such a thing. Everyone has condemned it,” he added.

PPP MNA Naz Baloch said  what occured in Balochistan’s Barkhan area was heart-breaking. She also pointed out that the women of Balochistan were still deprived of education.

“The rights of mothers and sisters of Balochistan are still being discussed in parliament while my beloved province is being neglected,” she added.

During the sitting, Nadeem Khan, the newly-elected MNA of the PTI from Hangu, was sworn in by the speaker.

The session of the lower house was later adjourned till 11 am on Friday.