Raisani lashes out at centre over lack of funds

Resources should be provided under 18th Amendment says CM; Home minister records statement on kidnappings.

QUETTA:

Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani lashed out against the federal government’s decision to not provide funds and resources of departments and ministries devolved under the 18th Amendment. The chief minister added that he “wouldn’t mind” if the federal government takes back all the devolved ministries and departments.

Presiding over a meeting of the Board of Governors of Gwadar Development Authority (GDA) in Quetta on Wednesday, Raisani said that the government is incapable of understanding the sensitive nature of the province’s issues.

He added angrily that the attitude of the government and bureaucracy had created a space for interference in the internal affairs of Balochistan from hostile countries and forces destabilising the province.

The chief minister claimed that hostile elements and forces were pouring in large amounts of money while the government seemed unable to provide jobs to Balochistan’s youth. “It is a great temptation for foreign powers to lure the jobless youth to work for them,” Raisani told the participants of the meeting.

The chief minister categorically stated that there had been no decision that the provinces would finance the devolved ministries and departments. He added that all three other provinces were on the same page about the issue as Balochistan. Raisani said that he had been made chairperson of the Gwadar Port Authority when the Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan package was announced – but the package had not been implemented to this date.

He added that there was ‘propaganda’ in the federal bureaucracy, claiming inefficient handling of resources and development funds and schemes in Balochistan. “If we review the efficiency of the federal government, the efficiency of the National Highway Authority (NHA) is zero. The work on all the highways is stopped, the optic fibre project for Gwadar is non-functional,” the irked chief minister said.

Raisani said that the federal government and its bureaucracy would have to demonstrate responsibility in handling the province’s issues. He said he would go to the Planning Commission of Pakistan, to the Finance Ministry and the Communication Ministry seeking the release of funds for Balochistan’s projects.

He advised the Ministry of Finance to release funds immediately to avoid cost escalation of projects in view of rampant inflation in the country.

Balochistan kidnappings

Meanwhile, Balochistan Home Minister Mir Zafar Zehri recorded his statement with the police about the alleged involvement of provincial ministers in the incidents of kidnapping for ransom.

The police recorded the statement following the directives of the chief justice during the hearing of a case about the deteriorating law and order situation in Balochistan. The police will submit the statement of the home minister before the apex court today.

Police Inspector General Rao Amin Ashim hac sent a letter to the Balochistan Chief Secretary requesting permission to record the statement of the home minister, who told the media that two or three ministers were involved in kidnappings.

According to sources, the home minister recorded his statement with Deputy Inspector General (DIG-Operationd) Qazi Wahid on Wednesday morning.

The apex court will resume the hearing on law and order today (Thursday).

Published in The Express Tribune, April 5^th, 2012.