Target killings: BNP-A ministers walk out from Balochistan Assembly

Asad Baloch refuses to join proceedings till murderers of Dr Naseem Baloch are arrested.

QUETTA: Three ministers belonging to Balochistan National Party- Awami (BNP-A) walked out of the Balochistan Assembly proceedings on Saturday in protest against the targeted killing of Doctor Naseem Baloch and the police’s failure to protect the life and property of people in the province.

Dr Naseem Baloch was shot dead by unknown assailants in Pasni area on Friday when he was at his clinic.

Speaker Aslam Bhootani chaired the session and deferred the question and answer session due to the absence of the concerned ministers and the MPA.

Provincial Minister for Agriculture Asad Baloch took the floor on a point of order and drew the attention of the House towards the targeted killing of Chief Medical Officer District headquarters Gwadar.

“It was not the first incident that a doctor has fallen victim to targeted killing. Many teachers, doctors, politicians, engineers and other qualified people were brutally killed by culprits with complete impunity and in broad daylight. Ironically, police and law enforcing agencies have not been able to arrest a single culprit behind these ruthless killings,” Asad Baloch told the House.

Along with Jan Baloch and Mir Asghar Rind, he walked out from the session saying that he would not join the session until the culprits behind the killing of Dr Naseem Baloch were arrested. “BNP will decide its course of action after a week if criminals are not brought to the book.”

Asad Baloch, who is the Parliamentary leader of BNP-A, strongly condemned the killing and said the situation would further deteriorate and there would be anarchy if measures are not been taken to arrest the culprits.

“Provincial government allocates Rs11 billion for the maintenance of law and order, but still police and other law enforcing agencies have failed to give an output or a positive result. The senior police officers must be held accountable for their failure to protect the life and property of the people,” he added.

Jan Baloch and Rind were persuaded by Pakistan Muslim League – Quaid (PML-Q) member Habibur Rehman to join the session. However, Asad Baloch insisted that he will not end his protest until the criminals are arrested.

Speaker Bhootani also expressed his concern and asked the law minister to take up the issue with the chief minister during the cabinet meeting.

The BNP-A ministers said the targeted killing and incidents of kidnapping for ransom are on the rise and the silence on the part of the law enforcing agencies raises questions. “If the police does not have the courage to arrest the influential people, then they must be held responsible for this lawlessness,” they said.

Speaking on the point of order, Provincial Minister Mines and Mineral Mir Abdul Rehman Mengal, Zahoor Buledi, Abdul Khaliq Bashar Dost of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam – Fazl (JUI-F) and Nasrin Khithran of PML-Q  also voiced their concern over the deteriorating law and order situation.

“Almost all ministers in the Balochistan Assembly are enjoying the perks and privileges but no one is sincere since they have failed to ensure their presence. The non-seriousness could be gauged by the absentee ministers. We should take the law and order issue seriously; otherwise the situation would go out of control. We have no opposition in the Assembly, thus it would be easy to evolve a comprehensive strategy to bring peace in the province,” said Mengal, who was elected as an independent candidate.

PML-Q's Khithran, while criticising Balochistan Levies, said that the deputy commissioners were not performing their official duties honestly.

“The deputy commissioners are often not present in their respective districts; thus, law and order situation is going from bad to worse with each passing day,” she said.

The speaker adjourned the session till Tuesday.