QUETTA, Sept 25: Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Mohammad Yousuf has said that no one can stop the Army from establishing cantonments in the province and a counter resolution will soon be tabled keeping in view all technical aspects that will reverse the resolution adopted against it in the previous session.

Talking to newsmen here on Thursday, he announced that 16 ministers would be inducted to expand the cabinet, raising its strength to 29.

He said he had already taken President Musharraf into confidence over the issue.

Mr Yousuf said that the provincial assembly should run the affairs keeping in view its jurisdiction and desist from meddling in federal subjects and maintained that he disagreed with the resolution adopted by the cabinet against the establishment of Cantonments in Balochistan.

He said the PML members were not present in the House when the resolution against the establishment of cantonments was tabled in the House on Sept 23 and maintained that now “we are considering the technical aspect to withdraw that resolution.”

The chief minister said that the establishment of cantonments and deployment of troops along the borders with Afghanistan were federal subjects and the provincial government or the assembly could not interfere in it.

He said if the cantonments could be established in Peshawar, Karachi, Lahore, Quetta, and Khuzdar then why they could not be established in other parts of the province.

He said no one could stop the Army from going ahead with this plan.

When asked if discussing the provincial cabinet expansion with the President did not tantamount to federal interference in the provincial matters, he said that federal government had to provide funds so the matter had to be discussed with the federal government.

He further said that the MMA, as a major coalition partner of the provincial government, would get an equal share in the cabinet expansion.