QUETTA:
The sense of urgency was palpable as a usually near-empty house was near-packed. By the end of the session, under-fire Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani walked out with a fresh mandate from the provincial assembly – and a heavy one at that.
In a special session, the Balochistan Assembly unanimously reposed confidence in the beleaguered chief minister, whose position was under serious threat after the Supreme Court ruled that the government of the strife-torn province had failed.
Usually attended only by a dozen or so lawmakers at any given time, the 65-seat assembly was attended by some 50 members. The motion to express confidence in Raisani was tabled by Balochistan National Party-Awami (BNP-A)’s Ahsan Shah and supported fully by other coalition partners.
Not only did the sitting defend the chief minister, it shot back with its own salvos in unison.
Leaders of most of the parliamentary parties took the floor to voice support for Chief Minister Raisani, while criticising elements that they said were acting to undermine representative democracy and trying to topple an elected government.
Including Maulana Abdul Wasey of Jamiat UIema-e-Islam, Sardar Aslam Bizenjo, Syed Ahsan Shah of BNP-A, and Zamruk Khan, Mir Asim Kurd, Ali Madad Jattak of the Pakistan Peoples Party, speakers also termed the criticism of the Balochistan government illegal, unconstitutional and against the spirit of democracy and representative rule. They further stressed that the Supreme Court had not given any order for a change of government.
Some members held that the apex court had exceeded its constitutional limits.
While they conceded that the law and order situation in Balochistan is indeed not good, they added the situation was as bad in other provinces. They specifically pointed to the country’s financial capital, where dozens are regularly massacred, and which is currently in the grip of another wave of violence where over 40 people have been killed in the last few days.
They also linked the violence with Balochistan’s strategic position, claiming that three countries – the United States, Afghanistan and India – are involved in destabilising the situation in the province.
Some speakers also criticised the hard-line nationalists claiming that they are frustrated having boycotted the last elections and now wanted to enter the fray again.
The advocate general of Balochistan also participated in the session and explained some legal points regarding the current situation.
Notably, however, while the assembly floor was relatively packed and a few members were on approved leave, the few that remained absent were political heavyweights – including Sardar Sanaullah Zehri, Jaffar Khan Mandokheil, Sadiq Umrani, Jan Changhezi, Bakhtiar Domki and Sardar Yar Mohammad Rind.
Raisani expresses gratitude
Following the vote of confidence, a relieved Raisani took the floor, albeit briefly, to express gratitude to all the MPAs that reposed trust in his leadership.
He said that the members “have foiled the designs of those who wanted to dissolve the assembly.” He told the house that he would continue to defend the assembly and would be in the forefront to defend parliamentary institutions.
What about Bhootani?
The session, which delivered a shot in the arm to not only the chief minister but the entire provincial set-up, took place despite facing a number of hurdles – most notably from Speaker Aslam Bhootani, who was not in the session because he has taken over as acting governor in the absence of Nawab Zulfikar Magsi.
Bhootani had initially refused to summon the session, which set off the crisis, and later, as acting governor, ‘cancelled’ the key session that was ultimately held on Tuesday.
Some members also criticised Bhootani for attempting to postpone the session.
Talking to media outside the assembly, Raisani said that a vote of no confidence against Bhootani would be decided after consulting allies.
Bhootani adamant
Bhootani, on his part, continued to take shots at the chief minister from the Governor House.
Talking to a TV channel, the acting governor said that only ordinary members, and not ministers, can summon an assembly session. He said he would evaluate the legal status of the current session after resuming his duties as speaker.
He said that, instead of acting emotionally, the government should consider that, if the Supreme Court passes another order, the province could face prospects of having the government’s post-SC order actions annulled, like the government faced when Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani was unseated.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 14th, 2012.
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Despite all their weaknesses and inefficiencies I salute to the members of the Baluchistan Assembly who have saved democracy. No "paid servant" has a right to say anything about the success or failure of a government. It is only and only the right of the people to decide about the success or failure of a government through their votes and no self-proclaimed righteous can snatch this right from them.
it was a vote of no confidence against the supreme court.