Most political parties welcome sacking of Balochistan govt

Say the move is in line with ground situation; JUI-F does not agree.


Peer Muhammad January 15, 2013
Shia Muslim mourners sit beside the coffins of blast victims at a mosque following overnight twin suicide bombings in Quetta on January 11, 2013. PHOTO: AFP

ISLAMABAD:


Most political parties have hailed the imposition of governor’s rule in Balochistan in line with the demands of the Hazara Shia community who staged sit-in protest with bodies of Thursday’s twin blasts for three days.


However, the Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam-Fazl – a key partner in the PPP-led Balochistan government – rejected the decision as “undemocratic step” by the federal government.

Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf announced the proclamation of emergency at a meeting with the Hazara community leaders late Sunday night.

Political parties agreed that although the imposition of governor’s rule was technically “undemocratic”, the circumstances suggested the step could give respite to vulnerable communities.

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz tried to remain neutral, saying it neither supported nor opposed governor’s rule in Balochistan. PML-N Senator Pervez Rasheed said the decision was in line with the ground situation and the demand of the people of the province. However, the consequences of governor’s rule would determine its effectiveness, he added. Senator Rasheed said PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif’s opinion was not sought in the promulgation of governor’s rule and that he was only informed about it.

Balochistan National Party (Awami) MNA Yaqoob Bezanjo said: “The carnage of the Hazara community in Quetta is one of the worst incidents in the province and the provincial government has no justification to cling on to power.”

The Muttahida Qaumi Move­mnet, Awami National Party, Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf also supported the move.



On the other hand, the JUI-F opposed governor’s rule, saying it was an extra-constitutional and undemocratic step. The party’s spokesperson, Maulana Amjad, said the prime minister did not accept their suggestion of in-house change.

“Governor’s rule is not the best option, and if we imposed it in Balochistan then should we also impose it in Sindh and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, where the situation is not different,” he said. Political parties in Balochistan remained divided over the dismissal of the Nawab Aslam Raisani led-coalition government.

National Party (NP) President Dr Abdul Malik Baloch said the imposition of governor’s rule in the province was a result of bad governance.

However, the party’s Senior Vice President Hasil Khan Bizinjo said the people of Balochistan would not be satisfied with the imposition of governor’s rule unless target killers were arrested.

Former Speaker Balochistan Assembly Muhammad Aslam Bhootani termed Monday a “day of salvation” for the people of Balochistan, following the imposition of the governor’s rule. Pakhunkhowa Milli Awami Party Provincial President Usman Kakar said, “There was no other option but to invoke Article 234 in the province to get rid of corrupt faces.”

(With additional reporting by Zafar Baloch in Quetta and Abdul Manan in Lahore)

Published in The Express Tribune, January 15th, 2013.

COMMENTS (1)

Saqib | 11 years ago | Reply

wish these poineers of Islamic terrorism JUI F ever talk of human value specially when it is against there intrest

Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ