Standing committees: No in-house panels in Balochistan Assembly

Govt has so far not formed standing committees to maintain its optimum level of performance.

QUETTA:

Balochistan Assembly held its 104th proceedings on Thursday completing the parliamentary year. However, the government has so far not formed standing committees, including public accounts committee, to maintain its optimum level of performance.

The formation of committees is important to keep a check and balance on the performance and corruption in government departments and state-run projects in the province.

“The public accounts and other committees are not formed which is an issue. I have been reminding the parliamentarians about the formation of committees,” Speaker Balochistan Assembly Jan Mohammed Jamali told The Express Tribune.

The speaker, however, said he is trying to ensure that all the committees are formed before the budget session. A total of 19 committees are needed to be formed but so far only two have been set up to run the affairs of the assembly.

The House Committee and Finance Committee have so far been constituted out of the total 19 committees.

“After a year, many members, particularly from Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PKMAP), have finally realised that they are in the government and they have to defend the government rather that walk out and criticise its policies,” said Jamali.

“I have now observed that they are defending the government. Whereas, there is not much criticism by opposition as their members have remained in the government for years,” he noted.

Responding to question regarding the performance of the assembly, Jamali said it has comparatively improved as each member is provided with an opportunity to speak on the issues.

“Balochistan is the youngest parliament and there are human errors but still we are doing well. The main issue is that there have been always coalition governments and diverse opinions,” he said, adding that people here are first tribal leaders and then politicians.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 23^rd, 2014.