MPA Mir Asim Kurd addresses the session presided over by Speaker Matiullah
Agha. PHOTO: ONLINE
Members of the Balochistan Assembly strongly condemned on Wednesday the Hazara town suicide bomb attack that claimed over 89 lives.
The members also agreed that the sacking of the Nawab Aslam Raisani-led government on the directive of one corrupt bureaucrat was regrettable, adding that innocent people were still being killed, despite the imposition of Governor’s rule.
These views were expressed during a debate on a condemnation resolution, chaired by Speaker Syed Matiullah Agha, against the Hazara town incident.
Former minister and Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam-Fazl leader Maulana Abdul Wasay, Awami National Party’s Zamarak Khan and Balochistan National Party-Awami’s Syed Ahsan Shah were among those who denounced the Quetta carnage, claiming that external elements were active throughout Balochistan.
The condemnation resolution was adopted by the House unanimously.
As usual, the lawmakers continued to criticise the imposition of Governor’s rule until the end of the session.
Wasay said Governer Zulfiqar Ali Magsi was unaware of the true situation of the province, which is why he is issuing statements against the failure of agencies.
“The law and order situation of Balochistan is deteriorating because of an international plan,” he said. He added that political and religious parties had rendered immense sacrifices for the sake of democracy, but they are now being declared criminals. Wasay also said it was most unfortunate to see the protesting women and children, and to observe the reaction raids being conducted in religious seminaries.
“There is not a single terrorist in madrassas and very wrong impression is being given by linking he madrassa with terrorism,” he said.
Matter of opposition
Wasay also requested Assembly Speaker Agha to issue notification of his orders to annul the directives of former speaker Muhammad Aslam Bhootani, in which he declared Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PML-Q) MPA Tariq Magsi as opposition leader in the Balochistan Assembly.
To this, former finance minister, PML-Q’s Mir Asim Kurd, said that Tariq Magsi was an MPA of his party, thus ineligible to be declared opposition leader.
Responding to them, Agha ruled that the Assembly Secretariat should issue a notification saying that some of the directives by Bhootani, including declaring Magsi as opposition leader, were illegal.
Gwadar, Reko diq
Wasay said the Balochistan Assembly would only accept agreements on the Gwadar deep sea port and Reko diq gold and copper project if they kept the interests of the people uppermost.
During the session, legislators also expressed their reservations on handing over Gwadar port to China and stressed that they would only agree on agreements if they were given equal status.
Former minister and PPP Deputy Parliamentary leader Ali Madad Jattak strongly opposed his arrest-cum-release at the hand of Frontier Corps. He said that when Governor’s rule was imposed in Balochistan, a raid was conducted on his residence and now when Governor’s rule was being lifted the same tactic was being employed to harass him.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 21st, 2013.
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