Balochistan ministers attribute insurgency to govt’s apathy
Say Baloch people are also being targeted outside the province.
QUETTA:
Balochistan ministers on Saturday blamed the government’s apathy as a reason for uprisings in the volatile province.
In a provincial assembly session, chaired by Speaker Aslam Bhootani, Revenue Minister Zamurkh Khan of the Awami National Party drew the attention of the house towards the kidnapping of Balochistan Rural Support Programme officials.
“The kidnappers are demanding a ransom of Rs250 million for the release of five BRCP officials and have set today (Sunday) as the deadline. They have already killed one official named Maqbol Ahmed and will do the same with the others if the government does not take immediate steps,” Khan said.
Senior Ministers Maulana Wasey and Asfandyar Khan agreed with Khan and added that the government should act to save the officials who could not pay such a large sum.
Bhootani asked the provincial law minister to urge the chief minister to take action, saying that all available resources should be utilised to save the lives of the kidnapped officials.
Energy crisis
PML-Q lawmaker Jaffar Mandokhail said that it was ironic how only a few urban areas in the province were provided with gas, while the rest of the province is deprived of the facility.
“The region is home to nearly all natural gas reserves, yet it is deprived of it. Gas is supplied to every corner of the country, while most areas in the province use firewood for cooking and warming,” Mandokhail said.
Maulana Wasey said that as far as the provision of basic necessities is concerned, the democratic government has made no improvements, and the common man is still burdened by the same problems. “We highlight issues on the floor of the house hoping that they would be addressed, but no one pays any heed,” he said.
Wasey said it was due to the inability of the government to address these issues that the province demands for a separate state. “People will look to others for help if the government fails them.” Mandokhail attributed the same factor to the ongoing insurgency.
Lyari Operation
Balochistan National Party (Awami) legislators Sayed Ehsan Shah, Sardar Aslam Bezinjo, Sayed Eshan Shah and others strongly condemned the operation in Karachi’s old Lyari neighbourhood, saying that the Baloch people were being pushed against the wall. “The Baloch people, living in and outside the province are being targeted. Indiscriminate action must be taken against the perpetrators.”
Published in The Express Tribune, March 25th, 2012.
Balochistan ministers on Saturday blamed the government’s apathy as a reason for uprisings in the volatile province.
In a provincial assembly session, chaired by Speaker Aslam Bhootani, Revenue Minister Zamurkh Khan of the Awami National Party drew the attention of the house towards the kidnapping of Balochistan Rural Support Programme officials.
“The kidnappers are demanding a ransom of Rs250 million for the release of five BRCP officials and have set today (Sunday) as the deadline. They have already killed one official named Maqbol Ahmed and will do the same with the others if the government does not take immediate steps,” Khan said.
Senior Ministers Maulana Wasey and Asfandyar Khan agreed with Khan and added that the government should act to save the officials who could not pay such a large sum.
Bhootani asked the provincial law minister to urge the chief minister to take action, saying that all available resources should be utilised to save the lives of the kidnapped officials.
Energy crisis
PML-Q lawmaker Jaffar Mandokhail said that it was ironic how only a few urban areas in the province were provided with gas, while the rest of the province is deprived of the facility.
“The region is home to nearly all natural gas reserves, yet it is deprived of it. Gas is supplied to every corner of the country, while most areas in the province use firewood for cooking and warming,” Mandokhail said.
Maulana Wasey said that as far as the provision of basic necessities is concerned, the democratic government has made no improvements, and the common man is still burdened by the same problems. “We highlight issues on the floor of the house hoping that they would be addressed, but no one pays any heed,” he said.
Wasey said it was due to the inability of the government to address these issues that the province demands for a separate state. “People will look to others for help if the government fails them.” Mandokhail attributed the same factor to the ongoing insurgency.
Lyari Operation
Balochistan National Party (Awami) legislators Sayed Ehsan Shah, Sardar Aslam Bezinjo, Sayed Eshan Shah and others strongly condemned the operation in Karachi’s old Lyari neighbourhood, saying that the Baloch people were being pushed against the wall. “The Baloch people, living in and outside the province are being targeted. Indiscriminate action must be taken against the perpetrators.”
Published in The Express Tribune, March 25th, 2012.