QUETTA: The Balochistan Assembly discussed the missing persons’ issue on Wednesday, as a PPP lawmaker expressed resentment over the provincial government’s indifference to the matter.
A member from the treasury benches, Ali Madad Jatak, said the relatives of missing persons have been on a hunger strike for the past five months, but not a single government representative had visited them. This indicates a lack of concern on the part of public representatives, he said. As ministers complained about the slow pace of development projects in the province, Jatak said: “Ministers usually discuss and highlight issues related to their departments, and particularly about the stoppage of funds to their departments. But they completely ignore humanitarian issues.
Jatak said that the relatives of missing persons had set up a hunger strike camp in front of the Quetta Press Club five months ago to attract attention from concerned quarters, but were left disappointed. He demanded that a high-level committee under the chairmanship of the speaker probe the matter and resolve the longstanding humanitarian issue. The assembly speaker said it would be discussed in the cabinet meeting.
Minister for Minorities Basant Lal Gulshan took the floor on the point of order and drew the attention of the house towards the lack of interest by government officials in the proceedings. “The current assembly is about to complete its three years, but not a single senior official, including the IG police, chief secretary, home secretary or any other high official has attended a session,” he complained.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 16th, 2010.
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