February 27, 2003	Thursday	Zul Hijjah 25, 1423

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QUETTA, Feb 26: Issue of the existing district government system in the province divided coalition partners PML-Q and MMA in the Balochistan Assembly on Tuesday when they opposed each other while speaking about a privilege motion by an opposition MPA.

Pashtoonkhawa Milli Awami party (PMAP) MPA Nasim Turyalai moved the privilege motion on not allowing a public meeting of his party in Sadiq Shaheed Ground on the eve of International Day of Mother Tongue, as the city Nazim had water flooded in the ground.

Senior Minister Maulana Abdul Wasay of the MMA supported the motion, flaying the district government system and describing it as remnant of the martial law, and said that after restoration of democracy and democratic institutions there was no need of such system.

He said the JUI and many other parties had opposed the system, when the military government introduced it in the country, and did not participate in the local bodies elections considering the new system undemocratic, which according to him was introduced just to prolong military rule in the country.

“The district government system should be abolished in Balochistan,” the senior minister demanded and added that motion should be admitted for discussion over the role of these undemocratic institutions.

Home Minister Sanaullah Zahri said the senior minister and other MMA members were opposing the system, as they did not take part in the local bodies’ elections. All other parties had participated in the elections and their candidates were elected to the local governments, he said and added that the system should continue to work.

Regarding the privilege motion, the home minister said that PMAP leaders informed him about the ground situation. He said that he had allowed for holding their public meeting and also ordered police and other authorities concerned to protect the PMAP leadership.

He said that holding of public meetings and taking out processions were democratic rights of all political parties, and this right would not be denied in future.

Abdul Rahim Ziaratwal of PMAP and Mir Jan Mohammad Buladi also spoke on the motion and asked the government to take notice of this incident and begin a probe into the matter.