Balchistan Chief Minister Abdul Malik Baloch. PHOTO: REUTERS
Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik has refuted the perception that he is a chief executive only in the name and that the actual powers are in the hands of the provincial civil bureaucracy, headed by the chief secretary.
“It is absolutely incorrect to suggest that the chief secretary is the decision-making authority in the province and I am a powerless chief minister,” CM Malik said in an annoyed tone.
“I have all powers and authority prescribed for the provincial chief executive in the Constitution and the chief secretary is discharging his duties in accordance with the rules and procedure,” Malik said in an exclusive interview with The Express Tribune on Tuesday in Islamabad.
Recently, Senator Mir Hasil Bizenjo, acting president of the Balochistan’s ruling National Party (NP), had told the media that the provincial cabinet was a toothless body without any authority.
“We have been given the right to rule the province but we are denied decisions-making powers,” Bizenjo had said.
Dr Malik – who had also served as the president of the ruling NP till his election as the provincial chief minister in June – said that his party’s leader had been quoted by the media out of context.
An official in Quetta said the provincial chief secretary – who has been sent from Punjab – was exercising all the administrative powers and there was little role of the chief minister and his cabinet members in decision-making.
Malik defended the chief secretary against the allegations and said the chief secretary and the inspector-general of police, who was also from Punjab, were serving Balochistan with exemplary commitment and remarkable integrity.
Councilors resign
The chief minister admitted that ‘some’ of the newly elected councilors of local bodies from Makran division had resigned their offices after they received life threats by Baloch militants.
“No doubt the newly elected councilors are still being abducted in Makran division by militants,” the CM said.
He claimed that 10 to 12 newly elected councilors resigned their offices after they were abducted by insurgents. All of them had been elected from the chief minister’s own constituency in Makran division which is also his home town.
About the improving law and order situation in the province, Malik said the December 7 elections for over 7,000 local bodies’ seats were held in a better security environment as compared to the May 11 general elections. “Over 6,500 councilors have been elected for the local governments,” he added.
However, one of the ministers in Balochistan cabinet, requesting anonymity, said the bureaucracy had always undermined the elected representatives all over the country, in general, and in Balochistan, in particular.
LB by-polls in Balochistan
Meanwhile the provincial Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is preparing to conduct by-elections of the local bodies in the 570 constituencies of Balochistan on January 19.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 26th, 2013.
COMMENTS (7)
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If you have power, you are responsible for the situation in the province.
When you say you have power, you don't have it. Period.
They need to use their powers, they have the power, they need to take decision if they think Chief sec or IG is from Punjab or any other province and is not working fine then they have the power to change them. Because at the end if the won't deliver to the masses it will bring bad name to their tenure as CM, My All the best wishes for CM Balochistan and condemn those who are trying to overcome on the decisions of CM of Balochistan whether from Militants separatist or provincial civil bureaucracy,
The word power is ? Power to the people & Leaders to serve People and that one can say Power . . Balochistan needs To promote total development with a proper system priorities at the moment as below To start with Community Development , & Community Stabilization ,.With Democracy & Human rights One of the most important rights the right of people of Balochistan to govern them self ,with in Pakistan with the help of their elected leaders by the people of Balochistan, .Balochistan need building Infrastructure with Culture & Education ,Health & Hygiene Population & family planning as per their needs and with care of their religion is must .Balochistan with enough Land for food growing Agriculture , Horticulture, Forestry, live stock & Fishery , for Emergency Response Pakistan Army can play a very good role in Emergency Response and Education + Infrastructure and other need of the people ..Total projects for 10 years with only 1 to 2 %tax With duty free Zone for All Agriculture Machinery & Implements imported or produced locally .With using Solar and wind power for Energy With in Balochistan with the help of R & D & their own n G O s & N P O s or foundations they can start their 10 years duty free Development free Zone with patience and love for their land .
He is right, He has power. We are the ones who are blindfolded!!
I look forward to the day when Chief Secretary of Punjab will be from Sind or Balochistan